2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Ohio State EDGE Jack Sawyer

Jack Sawyer has been one of the most talked about players in college football this year while having an extremely productive final season at Ohio State and leading the Buckeyes to a national title. He has seen a recent boom in the press about his stock in the upcoming NFL Draft, however, the hype surrounding him has gone too far as he lacks the traits to be a dominate player at the next level.

Sawyer has decent speed but is not very explosive. He lacks burst and speed up the arc, and struggles to stop and start. In general, he is a pretty stiff athlete, he doesn’t change directions all that well, and has far from ideal traits for the position. He does have good strength, he is not overly powerful but can anchor well in the run game and bull rush effectively.

As a true pass rusher, he relies heavily on using his hands, which are pretty good, but his rushes are very stiff and lack the flexibility and ankle bend to win around the arc. Sawyer is a good run defender, he sets the edge well and is disciplined but just doesn’t have the tools to put himself in position to make plays in space consistently despite a relatively strong motor.

To me, Jack Sawyer projects to be a rotational 4-3 defensive end at best at the next level, with his primary value being in run defense. My pro comparison for him was Chauncey Gholston, a quality rotational piece that has carved out a solid NFL career, but not someone that has ever been able to dominate or put up consistent sack numbers.

Sawyer’s lack of athletic traits and overall effectiveness as a pass rusher limit his ceiling as an NFL player. He shouldn’t be considered until day 3 of this years draft, especially due to the talent and depth at this position.