Fourth round: Another edge rusher ... because of course
The Steelers added more depth to their defensive front, selecting Ohio State edge rusher Jack Sawyer in the fourth round of the NFL Draft.
Sawyer is a very physical edge defender with really good size at 6-4 and 260 pounds. Despite playing a position at which the Steelers already have an abundance, Sawyer had quietly been on their radar throughout the draft process. They met with him formally at the Combine and had dinner with him the night before the Ohio State pro day.
The match off the field is interesting. Sawyer grew up in the Columbus, Ohio area, and some people close to him were Steelers fans, so he grew up watching the team.
"I love it," Sawyer said today via conference call. "It's a dream come true to be able to play in the National Football League and for such a storied franchise like the Pittsburgh Steelers and a coach like Mike Tomlin, it's just a dream come true."
Sawyer was Pro Football Focus' 17th-ranked edge defender, but was ranked 92nd overall on their big board, showing the strength and depth of the class. He played in all 55 games the past four seasons, starting 29 consecutive games in 2023 and 2024, and was a team captain as a senior. Throughout his four college seasons, he recorded 144 tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss, 23 sacks, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 15 quarterback hurries and 11 passes defensed. His 23 sacks rank eighth in school history.
Sawyer's play really showed well during the college football playoffs this past season. In those four games, he recorded 13 tackles, seven passes defensed, 4.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries. He was named the Defensive MVP of the Cotton Bowl.
Teryl Austin said the plan for Sawyer is to play as an outside linebacker in their 3-4 defense, adding to an already deep room with T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig. Austin spoke well of Sawyer's on-field play, but really praised his intangibles — football character, winning attitude and being a player that makes plays in big moments.
The decision to select Sawyer boiled down to liking the player, not specifically wanting to address edge rusher.
"We're going to let him come in and work, and we'll just let the thing sort itself out," Austin said. "When you have good football players, they push each other. The guys who are usually best-suited to play, they'll rise above the other things and it'll make it an easy decision for us. His play on the field will determine what he does."
What Sawyer does is set the edge well in run defense, and he was ideal size to do that at the NFL level. Last season, the Steelers dealt with Highsmith missing six games. While Herbig can get after the quarterback, the run defense on the edge suffered in Highsmith's absence. That led to trading a seventh-round pick to acquire Preston Smith to bolster the position.
However, Sawyer really worked on improving his pass rush this past season, and it resulted in 63 total pressures, according to PFF, which ranked fourth in the FBS.
"I felt like I was able to showcase that I'm able to get after the quarterback at a high level and throughout the playoffs," Sawyer said. "(I want to) continue to build the pass-rush arsenal and continue to get better in every area and that part of the game."
The past couple of seasons, the Steelers have needed a fourth edge defender to play meaningful snaps at some point during the season. Drafting Swayer helps take care of that problem.
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THE ASYLUM
Chris Halicke
5:13 pm - 04.26.2025South SideFourth round: Another edge rusher ... because of course
The Steelers added more depth to their defensive front, selecting Ohio State edge rusher Jack Sawyer in the fourth round of the NFL Draft.
Sawyer is a very physical edge defender with really good size at 6-4 and 260 pounds. Despite playing a position at which the Steelers already have an abundance, Sawyer had quietly been on their radar throughout the draft process. They met with him formally at the Combine and had dinner with him the night before the Ohio State pro day.
The match off the field is interesting. Sawyer grew up in the Columbus, Ohio area, and some people close to him were Steelers fans, so he grew up watching the team.
"I love it," Sawyer said today via conference call. "It's a dream come true to be able to play in the National Football League and for such a storied franchise like the Pittsburgh Steelers and a coach like Mike Tomlin, it's just a dream come true."
Sawyer was Pro Football Focus' 17th-ranked edge defender, but was ranked 92nd overall on their big board, showing the strength and depth of the class. He played in all 55 games the past four seasons, starting 29 consecutive games in 2023 and 2024, and was a team captain as a senior. Throughout his four college seasons, he recorded 144 tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss, 23 sacks, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 15 quarterback hurries and 11 passes defensed. His 23 sacks rank eighth in school history.
Sawyer's play really showed well during the college football playoffs this past season. In those four games, he recorded 13 tackles, seven passes defensed, 4.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries. He was named the Defensive MVP of the Cotton Bowl.
Teryl Austin said the plan for Sawyer is to play as an outside linebacker in their 3-4 defense, adding to an already deep room with T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig. Austin spoke well of Sawyer's on-field play, but really praised his intangibles — football character, winning attitude and being a player that makes plays in big moments.
The decision to select Sawyer boiled down to liking the player, not specifically wanting to address edge rusher.
"We're going to let him come in and work, and we'll just let the thing sort itself out," Austin said. "When you have good football players, they push each other. The guys who are usually best-suited to play, they'll rise above the other things and it'll make it an easy decision for us. His play on the field will determine what he does."
What Sawyer does is set the edge well in run defense, and he was ideal size to do that at the NFL level. Last season, the Steelers dealt with Highsmith missing six games. While Herbig can get after the quarterback, the run defense on the edge suffered in Highsmith's absence. That led to trading a seventh-round pick to acquire Preston Smith to bolster the position.
However, Sawyer really worked on improving his pass rush this past season, and it resulted in 63 total pressures, according to PFF, which ranked fourth in the FBS.
"I felt like I was able to showcase that I'm able to get after the quarterback at a high level and throughout the playoffs," Sawyer said. "(I want to) continue to build the pass-rush arsenal and continue to get better in every area and that part of the game."
The past couple of seasons, the Steelers have needed a fourth edge defender to play meaningful snaps at some point during the season. Drafting Swayer helps take care of that problem.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
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