Ohio State’s Joey Bosa says he’s best player in 2016 NFL Draft
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Joey Bosa didn’t mince his words at the NFL Combine when asked who he thinks is the best player in the draft.
Joey Bosa had a standout career at Ohio State that included a national championship and a bevy of accolades and All-American honors. It was a career that could see the defensive end be the first player taken in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Related Story: NFL Mock Draft: Combine Edition
Bosa was a popular pick to be the first overall pick by the Tennessee Titans from the end of the college football season until the beginning of the NFL Combine. Bosa would be a great addition to the Titans if they go in that direction and when he was asked if he thinks he’s worthy of that selection, Bosa gave an answer to show you just how confident he is in his ability.
“I do, I do believe I’m the best player in the draft,” Bosa said. “As a top player, if you don’t believe that, there’s something wrong. … I think (I’m) the best pass rusher, the best defensive lineman in the country.”
Bosa had 51 tackles with 16 coming for loss and five sacks as a junior in 2015. The sack numbers were a career-low after having 13.5 and 7.5 his previous two seasons, but Bosa was double-teamed on nearly every play and often chipped with a back or tight end. His presence helped his teammates take advantage of man-to-man opportunities as the Buckeyes finished second in the nation in scoring defense.
He may have to switch to being a 3-4 defensive end in the NFL with six of the top seven teams in the NFL Draft running a three-man front, but he should be able to make that transition. Then, you can expect the comparisons to J.J. Watt to really intensify for the 6-6, 275-pound Bosa who is built similarly to the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
More saturday blitz: Building the Best CFB Team of All Time
I believe Bosa is the best all-around defensive lineman and the safest player in the draft, but I don’t know he’ll be the pick of the Titans who could take Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil to help protect quarterback Marcus Mariota.
Whether he goes first overall to the Titans or slides a few spots in the top 10, whoever gets Bosa is getting a player who should dominant for a decade.