The Texas A&M Football program is almost always represented in the NFL Draft. Each year, there are at least a handful of players who enter their names, and a smaller handful who hear their names called on draft day.
This year was no exception, even though the Aggies didn’t have any day one prospects. The Texas A&M Football team had a handful of players who heard their names called on day two and day three.
Today, we’ll be looking at each player drafted and which team they landed on, starting with the most important position.
Former Texas A&M Football QB Kellen Mond was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings
The first Texas A&M player to go in the draft was no surprise. It was quarterback Kellen Mond.
Mond’s positioning in the draft was unclear before draft day. Some experts had him going in the first round, while others had him going undrafted. That said, he would land on the Minnesota Vikings with the 66th overall pick in the 3rd round of the NFL Draft.
On the Vikings, he’ll serve as Kirk Cousins’ backup for a while before having an opportunity to step into the starting role. This may end up being extremely beneficial, as most quarterbacks who have a mentor for a year or two end up finding more success in the league.
Look for Mond to begin competing for a starting role as soon as Cousins’ contract expires.
Former Texas A&M Football DT Bobby Brown III was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams
There was discussion for who would be the second Texas A&M Football player taken in the 2021 NFL Draft. While Mond seemed like a clear number one, a handful of players could have been the second one taken.
Bobby Brown III would be that player.
With the 12th pick in the fourth round, the Los Angeles Rams would select Brown III, indicating that they were looking to bolster their defensive line. Brown was a part of arguably the best defensive line in the country in 2020, serving as an anchor on an extremely strong defensive unit.
In 2020, Brown accounted for 7.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Despite not having a ton of tackles, he was vitally important in this team’s run defense, which was among the best in the nation.
He’ll jump into a Rams team that was already strong at stuffing the run last season. It’s unclear whether or not he’ll receive any snaps immediately, but he could be a huge piece for this team down the road.
Former Texas A&M Football OL Dan Moore Jr. was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers
When Dan Moore Jr. came to College Station, he went under the radar as a recruit. He was only a 3-star player in high school, coming to the Aggies to prove his worth as a lineman. He would do just that.
He quickly went from an unknown prospect to one of the best offensive linemen in the country in just a few years. Moore Jr. wouldn’t win any national awards, but he was in the running for more than a handful of them in his last year in College Station.
The offensive line unit that he was a part of put up a handful of impressive numbers, including 0.7 sacks allowed per game and 5.5 yards per carry, making way for Isaiah Spiller to have a strong season.
He earned some exposure in the Senior Bowl, where he would protect Kellen Mond, helping the Aggies’ 3rd round pick earn the MVP award in that competition.
The Steelers likely saw his ability to stay active with his eyes and feet, maintain a disciplined play style, and always looking for the next block. Having gone in the fourth round, he’ll be a steal for a team that has consistently had a strong offensive line.
At 6-5, he can move like a smaller guy, with more athletic ability than most offensive linemen in this draft. Look for him to make an instant impact in Pittsburgh.
Former Texas A&M Football LB Buddy Johnson will join Dan Moore Jr. on the Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers must have watched a lot of Texas A&M Football, as they drafted two Aggies in the same round. 12 picks after they picked up Dan Moore Jr., they would select Buddy Johnson with the 140th overall pick, allowing for a reunion between former teammates.
Johnson would be the first defensive player taken by the Steelers in the 2021 NFL Draft and he might be another steal from College Station. As an inside linebacker, Johnson was the leader of one of the best defenses in the country in 2020.
He finished his junior year in 2019 with a team-high 77 tackles, 9 of which came for a loss, in 13 starts. He wouldn’t stop there, though, as his senior year would be even better. He’d cap off 2020 with a team-high 86 tackles in just ten games, a pick-six, and a couple of force fumbles. He was all over the field for Jimbo Fisher’s team.
Johnson has the athleticism and size that won’t require him to bulk up much for the next level. He’s built like an NFL linebacker already.
He can and will have an instant impact for a Steelers team that was in dire need of some strong linebacking play in 2020. Look for him to tear it up, collecting a ton of tackles at the next level.