Top 10 offensive tackles Washington Football Team could add in 2021 NFL Draft

Virginia Tech OT Christian Darrisaw. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images)
Virginia Tech OT Christian Darrisaw. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images) /
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Texas OT Samuel Cosmi. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Texas OT Samuel Cosmi. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

If you’re looking for a marriage of athletic ability, and upside, Samuel Cosmi could be your guy. The Texas product could be a nice pickup for Washington and could develop into a great left tackle at the next level.

For the Longhorns, Cosmi flashed at times on tape. He has a decent 6-foot-5, 314-pound frame and has explosive athletic ability. That’s part of why he logged a 9.99 RAS this offseason, the second-highest mark in this draft class behind only Spencer Brown.

Cosmi’s best skills come in pass protection. Because of his athletic ability and fluid movement skills, he can keep up with even the best speed rushers. He shows off good quickness getting into his set and is strong at the point of attack.

Washington Commanders
Washington Commanders /

Washington Commanders

Against the run, Cosmi is solid as well. He has good functional strength and takes good angles to get to blockers downfield. And at the point of attack, Cosmi generates some push and at the very least, tends to stalemate the defenders he latches onto.

So, what’s Cosmi’s problem? It’s inconsistency, and I like the way Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline described Cosmi’s NFL prospects.

"Since his freshman season, Cosmi has displayed flashes of next-level ability and the potential to be an early-round pick. His play was up and down the past two years, and while Cosmi looks great at times, there are also instances when he looks rather pedestrian. He possesses an enormous amount of upside and could wind up as a starting left tackle in the league, or Cosmi could be an underachiever who bounces from team to team and never realizes the expectations scouts have of him."

Cosmi also needs to improve his technique, as that will help him better leverage his athletic ability. If he can’t though, it could hinder his potential NFL success.

Cosmi is a high-ceiling, low-floor prospect. He’s certainly worth taking a chance on, especially given the success Matsko has had developing offensive linemen, but he will have to check the boxes for Washington in any interviews/meetings that they held with him.

The positives should outweigh the negatives with Cosmi though. He’s athletic and experienced, so there’s a good chance that he will end up going in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. If not, he shouldn’t last long on Day 2 barring a surprise.