In the 4th round of the 2025 NFL Draft the Pittsburgh Steelers took outside linebacker Jack Sawyer out of Ohio State in a move that confirms Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin’s long-term focus.
Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin as much as admitted that, with T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig ahead of him, outside linebacker is not a position of need. As Austin explained, Sawyer “was the best player for us at this time.”
Why does Austin feel this way? The defensive coordinator detailed:
We just really liked the player. As you get further down in the draft … when you have a guy that has all the qualities that he has and the tangibles and the winning attitude — those things are hard to pass up.
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler rated Sawyer as the 58th best player overall and the 11th best edge rusher – the Steelers took him at pick 123. At 6-4 and 260 pounds Sawyer could carve out a role in stopping the run, something that Nick Herbig hasn’t been as good as.
This is part of what attracted the Steelers to Sawyer, as Austin explained, “In the AFC North, if you can’t stop the run, it’s going to be a problem.” Anyone who hasn’t been able to blot out the ridiculing that Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry inflicted on the Steeles in the playoffs will agree.
Sawyer, for his part, embraces that role, admitting, “Setting an edge and playing the run is all about manhood on manhood. That’s who I am as a guy, as a man. I love the storied defenses we’ve had throughout Pittsburgh, and I can’t wait to bring a part of that with me.”
Jack Sawyer Video Highlights
Here are some highlights from Jack Sawyer’s time at OSU.
https://youtu.be/7VVR1m07_bs?si=C_SxHtPB1KEZWz2N
Even if we accept that these highlights are cherry picked to make Sawyer stand out in the draft, there’s a lot to like about the kid.
There’s a strong case to be made for drafting for the player and not the need. Two years ago Nick Herbig looked like he might have been a luxury pick, yet he’s arguably been the biggest impact player taken of the Khan-Wedil era.
If all goes well the Watt, Highsmith and Herbig will make most if not all of the nose at outside linebacker for the Steelers this season. But if things don’t go according to play, Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin have given themselves fallback option.
