The 2020 NFL Draft is over and teams are getting comfortable with their new draft picks. The next class of players is getting prepared now for another year of college football. Each position will be analyzed in the coming days. Here are the best 2021 NFL Draft prospects: offensive tackles.
Note: Players will not be ranked in the article. This is best used as a watch list for the 2020 season.
Sam Cosmi, Texas Longhorns
Cosmi is a redshirt junior heading into the 2020 season and has a lot of experience. He stands 6-foot-7 and 310 pounds, which is good for the NFL, although he could add some strength. There are a lot of good tackles in the 2021 NFL Draft class, but Cosmi is up there with the best of them.
He redshirted his first year on campus, but started at right tackle as a redshirt freshman. For his efforts, he was named a Freshman All-American as the Longhorns won 10 games and beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. His play improved as a sophomore, as he earned All Big 12 Second Team honors. Texas won eight games, but Cosmi played well. He will be one of many tackles getting first-round consideration in 2021.
Alex Leatherwood, Alabama Crimson Tide
There was some first-round buzz around Leatherwood, but he decided to go back to school for the 2020 NFL season. The 6-foot-6, 310-pound offensive lineman has been moved around the line, but has played well at tackle for the Crimson Tide. Another good season at Alabama could see Leatherwood retain his draft stock.
After seeing limited playing time as a freshman, he started at right guard in 2018. He was Second-Team All-SEC that season as the Crimson Tide made the College Football Playoff. Leatherwood moved to left tackle for the 2019 season, which ended up being Mac Jones‘ blindside at the end of the season, even though it wasn’t Tua Tagovailoa‘s blindside. He was a First-Team All-American as Alabama won 11 games. Leatherwood will be a sought-after prospect for his talent and versatility.
Walker Little, Stanford Cardinal
Little could have left school after last season, but now joins a talented draft class in 2021. He is 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds, which is really solid for a draft prospect. His junior ended in injury, but he can get right back on track with a better 2020 season.
As a freshman, Little started nine games and made the ESPN All-Freshman Team with Stanford winning nine games. His sophomore season went extremely well, as he made the All Pac-12 First-Team and Stanford won nine games again. He injured his knee early in the 2019 season and Stanford struggled to cope without him. If he performs well in 2020, he can recapture his value before the draft.
Jalen Mayfield, Michigan Wolverines
Michigan has a solid tackle prospect in Mayfield. He stands 6-foot-5 and 319 pounds, which is solid and allows him to beat up on lesser competition at the college level. Mayfield needs to have a good 2020 season, but could play his way into early-round consideration for the 2021 NFL Draft.
In his first season on campus, Mayfield saw time as a reserve left tackle. He earned the starting right tackle spot as a sophomore and ran with the opportunity. Mayfield was an All Big-Ten Honorable Mention and showed flashes of potential in the process. Michigan made the Citrus Bowl with his help. Another good season for Mayfield should help him shoot up draft boards.
Penei Sewell, Oregon Ducks
Sewell had a fantastic season for Oregon in 2019, which has made him the best tackle in college football. At 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds, Sewell is the prototypical size for an offensive tackle. He hasn’t shown many weaknesses in his game and if that continues, he will be the first tackle selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.
He started immediately for Oregon and produced. Sewell was a Freshman All-American and helped Oregon win nine games. His sophomore season was even better for Sewell, as he was an All-American and Oregon won 12 games, including the Rose Bowl. Sewell is the frontrunner to be the first tackle selected and looks like he could be a future All-Pro.
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