Now that QB Aaron Rodgers is signed and in a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey to start out minicamp, the principle headline of the offseason now turns to OLB T.J. Watt who’s skipping out of the staff’s three-day obligatory minicamp as he awaits a brand new deal. The idea is {that a} cope with Watt will get finished someday right here this summer time previous to the beginning of the season, however for now, it seems as if the 2 sides are far aside in contract talks as he isn’t across the facility.
Whereas Pittsburgh would profit from having their finest participant’s presence on the sphere and within the locker room, one Steeler really stands to realize from Watt’s absence: rookie OLB Jack Sawyer.
Sawyer was a little bit of a shock choice by the Steelers within the fourth spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft, already having the likes of Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig within the outdoors linebacker room, making Sawyer OLB4 at-best this season. Nonetheless, Pittsburgh wanted so as to add a top quality fourth edge rusher to the roster for depth and the worth of Sawyer appeared too good to cross up on Day 3 of the draft, giving the staff a confirmed, well-rounded cross rusher that may additionally set the sting nicely towards the run.
If Watt was at minicamp, the reps with the primary staff protection could be primarily taken up be he and Highsmith with Herbig doubtless sprinkling in a bit because the staff’s OLB3. This would go away minimal alternatives for Sawyer to get some run with the primary staff protection, and sure limiting his total reps with the second and third staff items as nicely with solely so many reps to go round.
Nonetheless, with Watt not on the sphere, his absence opens up extra snaps and dwell reps for Sawyer to study on-the-go with different members of the beginning protection, getting the chance to get a really feel for taking part in alongside the likes of Cameron Heyward, Patrick Queen, and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Exterior linebackers coach Denzel Martin talked about after the staff’s first minicamp observe that Sawyer is raring to study and get on the sphere as a lot as he can, so in a means, Watt skipping out on minicamp might be seen as a profit to assist jumpstart Sawyer’s improvement and integration into the protection.
Clearly, we will anticipate a deal to get hammered out with Watt within the coming weeks, placing Sawyer doubtless again at his OLB4 function. Which means Sawyer’s projected play time as a rookie on protection in 2025 doubtless will probably be restricted with Watt, Highsmith, and Herbig forward of him. Nonetheless, it’s believable that Sawyer might see upwards of 200 snaps on protection in a rotational function very like Matthew Marczi of Steelers Depot recommended after Herbig logged practically that quantity of snaps as a rookie himself in 2023 behind Watt and Highsmith who had been wholesome for that season together with Markus Golden who Pittsburgh had taking part in in a rotational function.
No matter how a lot Sawyer performs as a rookie, these snaps early in his rookie season are extra beneficial than what they’d be for Watt who’s coming into his ninth season within the league. If Pittsburgh desires their rookie outdoors linebacker in control with a purpose to contribute early within the common season, the quantity and high quality of his snaps in minicamp and coaching camp will assist expedite that. Thus, Sawyer ought to maximize this chance whereas Watt isn’t in-town to get all of the on-field studying he can earlier than Watt returns the place he’ll then be studying from among the finest within the league in additional of an observing trend.
