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| Ohio State linebacker Jack Sawyer lands in Pittsburgh coming off a National Championship. |
Does the selection of Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer tell us the Steelers are never going to change?
NOAH KRAVITZ
Are the Steelers really veering away from The Original Steeler Way? Not sure if it’s appropriate to put that in italics but for our sake that’s what we’ll do. The Steelers have always stuck to their true selves whenever they prepare for draft day. It always seems that in their draft hauls, there will be one player who stands out in a certain way. That player last year was the big and physical center from West Virginia: Zach Frazier. But this year, there was only one player who fit the term: Steeler. One who could embody the entire culture and tradition of who the Pittsburgh Steelers are. That is linebacker from Ohio State Jack Sawyer.
Picked 123rd overall, Sawyer presents all the player traits you want in a Steeler. He is tough, physical off the edge, and will put himself on the line to help bring his team to victory. He showed competitive spirit throughout Ohio State’s journey to become National Champions.
Measuring in at 6’5” and 260 lbs., he shows scary size and athleticism that can torture opposing offenses on a given day.
He is registered as an outside linebacker for the Steelers while it might not be a pressing need at the moment, he is a player they will need down the road. Especially in a tough AFC North Division that has dominance all around it.
As a Buckeye defender in college, Sawyer was exceptionally strong versus the run, playing with a lot of leverage and strength against offensive lines.
In the event where he gets drafted by a different team, he would have a legit chance to start on that team. But for Sawyer in Pittsburgh, while he may not see the field often on defense, he could play a big role in special teams on the kickoff unit.
Some were wondering if the selection of Sawyer could impact the situation involving star edge rusher TJ Watt, whether Watt wants to receive a contract extension or play on another team. If he receives a contract extension, the total money given to Watt may very well be more than the recent deal given out to Cleveland’s very own: Myles Garrett who signed his deal for more than $200 million over the course of 4 years. If Watt chooses to play on another team, Pittsburgh can either wait till Watt decides otherwise or play leverage and demand a significant amount of trade compensation (most notably: draft capital).
As we think about the Steelers 2025 Draft in its entirety, we can come to the agreement that this team will always be the same. Until something drastic happens that will change the course of the franchise for years to come. That doesn’t necessarily mean that this team will get worse, it’s just a matter of when this team will be able to get over the hump and be able to compete in a dominant division and conference.
Most would agree if you wanted to put yourself ahead of others for a race to a Lombardi, players like Sawyer help out with that. Maybe a player that doesn’t contribute right away on the field but can be a vital piece in the locker room and on the team moving forward.
A linebacker group of TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, as well as Sawyer could certainly be a head-scratcher when wondering about what Sawyer can soon see on the field. Although, it is never a bad thing to have as much depth as possible at any position on a roster.
We’ve always known with Mike Tomlin that he is never going to be afraid of using his players on any given day. Will Sawyer be a volunteer? Or will Sawyer be a hostage? Time will tell.
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