Jack Sawyer is one of those players who makes you second-guess everything you think you know about scouting. One week, he’s a dominant force in the College Football Playoff, looking every bit like the five-star prodigy he was out of high school. The next, he’s lost in the shuffle of a loaded Ohio State defensive line, leaving fans and NFL GMs wondering where the "superstar" went. If you’ve been refreshing every jack sawyer mock draft you can find, you've probably noticed the wild variance. He’s anywhere from a fringe first-rounder to a mid-round "safe" pick.
Honestly, the Jack Sawyer experience is a rollercoaster.
He didn't take the traditional "star" path. He didn't come out and drop 15 sacks as a freshman. Instead, he spent years as a "solid" contributor before finally exploding late in his career. By the time he finished at Ohio State, he had racked up 144 total tackles and 23 sacks. Those are good numbers. They aren't Bosa-level numbers, but they’re legitimate. The real question for NFL teams in 2026 isn't whether he’s a good football player—he clearly is—it's whether he has the "twitch" to be a cornerstone pass rusher.
The Reality of the Jack Sawyer Mock Draft Hype
When you look at a typical jack sawyer mock draft, you’ll see teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, or Cincinnati Bengals popping up. Why? Because those teams love "culture guys." They love defensive ends who can actually play the run, not just pin their ears back and sprint past the quarterback. Sawyer is essentially a 6'4", 260-pound brick wall when an offensive tackle tries to move him.
He sets the edge better than almost anyone in this class.
But NFL scouts are paid to find the ceiling. And Sawyer's ceiling is the subject of a lot of heated late-night debates in draft rooms. Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball has famously compared him to Sam Hubbard. If you're a Bengals fan, you love that. Hubbard is a rock. If you’re a team picking in the top 15 looking for the next Myles Garrett, you probably hate it.
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The 2024 and 2025 seasons changed the narrative for him. He was the Defensive MVP of the Cotton Bowl. He made a massive play in the CFP National Championship against Notre Dame to help the Buckeyes seal the title. Big-game production matters. It’s the reason he hasn't fallen into the late rounds despite some concerns about his "stiffness" and lack of elite bend.
Breaking Down the Scouting Report
Scouts are picky. It's their job. When they watch Sawyer, they see a guy who wins with a "bull rush" and a "long-arm." He’s strong. Like, grown-man strong.
- Strength at the Point of Attack: He doesn't get pushed back. Even against double teams, he holds his gap.
- The Motor: It never stops. Seriously. He will chase a screen pass 20 yards downfield just to get a piece of the tackle.
- The "Twitch" Factor: This is the sticking point. He isn't explosive off the ball. He’s more of a "grinder" than a "sprinter."
You’ll hear the word "technical" a lot. That’s scout-speak for "he’s not the fastest guy, but he knows what he’s doing with his hands." For a team like the Steelers, who actually drafted him in some 2025 scenarios before he returned for his final year, that’s a perfect fit. They want guys who understand leverage and won't get washed out on third-and-short.
Why the First Round Might Be a Reach
A lot of the early jack sawyer mock draft projections had him as a lock for the top 32. Now? It’s complicated. The 2026 edge rusher class is getting crowded with "freaks." Guys like David Bailey from Texas Tech or Rueben Bain Jr. from Miami offer that explosive, terrifying speed that makes GMs drool. Sawyer is the "safe" pick, and in the NFL, "safe" often means Day 2.
There’s a world where a team like the Lions, picking late in the first, sees him as the perfect complement to Aidan Hutchinson. Imagine those two on the ends. It’s a nightmare for a run-heavy offense. But if you’re a team like the Falcons or the Cardinals and you need a guy who can generate 12 sacks a year on his own? Sawyer might not be your guy.
The "Overreaction" Factor
We see it every year. A guy has a massive bowl game, and suddenly he’s a top-10 pick. Then the Combine happens, he runs a 4.75, and everyone panics.
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Sawyer is probably going to run a 4.6 or 4.7. That’s fine. It’s not slow, but it’s not "elite." The teams that will draft him are the ones that value the tape over the stopwatch. If you watch the Michigan game or the Oregon game from his final season, you see a guy who affects the game even when he isn't getting the sack. He forces the QB to step up. He collapses the pocket. He’s a "force multiplier."
Where Does He Actually Land?
If I’m betting on it, I’m looking at the early second round. Some team is going to see a National Champion with 23 career sacks and a legendary work ethic and decide they can’t let him pass.
- The Floor: Third round. If he tests poorly, he might slide, but his run defense is too good for him to fall further.
- The Ceiling: Late first round. A contender needs a starter who won't make mistakes.
- The Fit: 4-3 Defensive End. He’s not a 3-4 standing-up linebacker. Put his hand in the dirt and let him work.
Most people get Sawyer wrong because they want him to be Chase Young. He’s not. He’s Jack Sawyer. He’s a throwback. He’s the guy who does the dirty work so the linebackers can rack up 15 tackles.
Actionable Insights for Draft Fans
If you're tracking Jack Sawyer's stock, stop looking at sack totals. Instead, watch his "pressures" and "run stops." NFL teams are moving toward a more holistic view of edge defenders. If he's consistently moving the pocket and forcing the ball inside, his draft stock is healthy. Keep an eye on the Senior Bowl and Combine agility drills—specifically the 3-cone drill. If he can show a bit more "bend" than people expect, he could easily jump back into that late-first-round conversation. Check the official NFL Combine results in March to see if his lateral agility numbers match his on-field production.