Draft courses are remembered by what occurs within the first spherical. They’re outlined by what occurs on Day 3. Rounds 4-7 is the place NFL groups actually make their cash and have their scouting mettle examined. It’s the place the Pittsburgh Steelers as soon as discovered Antonio Brown, a franchise-changing choose. Ohio State EDGE Jack Sawyer might by no means attain these lofty heights, however he’s thought of among the finest picks on the ultimate day of the 2025 NFL Draft.
ESPN’s Matt Miller ranked his favourite 100 picks of the draft, specializing in expertise, staff want, and worth. Whereas Sawyer ranked forty eighth total, he slotted because the fifth-best Day 3 choose of any staff.
“Sawyer’s hard-nosed, all-hustle mentality makes him one other basic Steelers choose. He has some tightness which may restrict his every-down skill, however Sawyer has proved to be a playmaker in large video games. (See Michigan and Texas final season.)”
It’s a good abstract of Sawyer’s sport. A flat-out playmaker in school, Sawyer stuffed the stat sheet in 2024. He completed with 59 tackles (9 for a loss), 9 sacks, seven move breakups, three compelled fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two defensive touchdowns, and one interception.
With energy, toughness, and a no-nonsense method, his sport “feels” like a Steeler. His preliminary position as a No. 4 outdoors linebacker will likely be small however Sawyer will present high quality depth at Pittsburgh’s most vital defensive place.
The one Day 3 picks rated forward of Sawyer’s 123rd total choice have been QB Shedeur Sanders (Browns, 144th total), DL Ty Robinson (Eagles, 111th total), RB Dylan Sampson (Browns, 126th total), and S Lathan Ransom (Panthers, 122nd total).
Different Steelers picks to seem on the checklist have been RB Kaleb Johnson at No. 43, DL Derrick Harmon No. 55, and QB Will Howard at No. 76.
Miller preferred the Sawyer choose rather more than he did the Harmon one. Harmon was the lowest-rated first-round choose on the checklist, three spots behind Buffalo Payments CB Maxwell Hairston at No. 52 total.
“We are able to debate about whether or not Pittsburgh ought to have taken a quarterback with this choose, however Harmon checked off the staff’s different greatest want. He’ll additionally get the prospect to study from a legend in Cameron Heyward.”
Clearly, it was a quarterback class the NFL didn’t love. Sanders had one of many greatest falls in draft historical past and solely three passers have been chosen throughout the high 75 picks, considered one of them being the primary total choose. Pittsburgh stuffed a necessity and received an controversial top-10 expertise in Harmon. Somebody needs to be final of the primary rounders nevertheless it’s tough to see why Harmon will get comparatively low billing.
Miller’s favourite choice of the draft was the Chicago Bears taking Missouri WR Luther Burden No. 38 total, a powerful slot in Ben Johnson’s offense. His high choice for the Baltimore Ravens was first-round S Malaki Starks, first-round EDGE Shemar Stewart for the Cincinnati Bengals, and Sanders for the Browns at No. 10 leaguewide.
