Throwback Edge Defender Jack Sawyer

I like Ohio State Edge Rusher, Jack Sawyer. I liked him so much on his 2022 game film, I spotted him a first-round grade. Granted, I didn’t like him quite as much on his 2023 game film, but I will advise that for any NFL organization that’s looking to add a championship ingredient to the mix, Sawyer is your guy.

At the right value.

When I held up his 2022 and 2023 game film side-by-side in my mind’s eye, Sawyer did not look nearly as dominant in 2023. He appeared to be a step slower, he didn’t show as much brute power, and he didn’t use his hands as well as a pass rusher. However, he’s still a darn good football player.

At the right value.

What an NFL team is getting as a pass rusher

Sawyer predominately matched up against the opposition’s right tackle in 2023. Sometimes he was standing up pre-snap, and sometimes he had his hand down in the dirt. Either way, he brought it on every snap.

The problems are:

• Decent (not great) football speed
• Lack of pass rush moves shown
• Limited use of hands

Sawyer’s best pass-rushing games in 2023 for you film enthusiasts were against Western Kentucky, Purdue, Rutgers, Minnesota, and the bowl game against Missouri.

The other eight games were ho-hum.

There is noticeable hip tightness that shows up with Sawyer when he’s attempting to make quick changes of direction and adjust in the pocket. That’s also a problem. His best-looking pass rushes were when he was able to slip into the gap through the right tackle’s inside shoulder and then take the shortest path to the quarterback.

Hard-nosed against the run

Sawyer loves to play the run.

He will scratch, claw, and kick (well maybe not kick) his way to the ball carrier. Frankly, I liked him better as a run defender than a pass rusher on his full body of work this past season.

2023:

48 tackles (24 solo)

Slow reactions

There is a slight tendency that shows up on his game film for him to be slow off the snap (I mean the slowest of the defensive line) and once in a while, he loses track of the football on misdirection plays.

I don’t look for the ‘one-off’ and I don’t hold those against a prospect. As an evaluator, I’m looking for pervasive tendencies and patterns over a sustained period and this kept popping up on the film.

NFL projection

Sawyer plays on a major college program that is highly ranked, which gets him more attention, but his grade must be tempered no matter how much I like him.

NFL teams who are looking to bolster their run defense and get a guy who can produce pressures as a pass rusher will want to look closely at Sawyer. I never see him becoming a sack artist at the next level, but he would be an interesting fit, especially as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense (three down defensive lineman and four linebackers).

#33 Jack Sawyer 6-foot-5, 260 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2024 Fall Grade: Third Round (I would select him)

Projected by 48.9% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of October 25, 2024 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Jack Sawyer Has Violent Power (2022: 4 games evaluated)

2023 game film evaluated: Indiana, Youngstown State, Western Kentucky, Notre Dame, Maryland, Purdue, Penn State, Wisconsin, Rutgers, Michigan State, Minnesota, Michigan, and Missouri (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

A prospect with an athletic cut frame and long arms who contributes as a pass rusher and run defender with good effort. Tough. Physical. Draws his fair share of double teams. Decent power. Lacks flexibility and natural explosiveness. Raw pass rusher. Occasionally flashed spin and head fakes. Rarely flashed ghost move. Lack of hand usage pass rushing. Below average bull rusher. Has straight-line acceleration into the pocket. Inconsistent shed vs. run. Will chase out to the sidelines. Strong wrapping tackler. Rarely drops into short-range pass coverages, but looked decent doing it.

What to look for during the 2024 college football season

1. Pass rush production?

2. Pass rush moves?

3. Slow reactions?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.