Ohio State EDGE Jack Sawyer is another name frequently predicted to the Detroit Lions in early offseason mock drafts. In reality, he’s the Lions’ top pick in almost 20 percent of those forecasts, as per the Mock Draft Database.
What factors contribute to Sawyer’s popularity as a projection for Detroit? His significant performance during Ohio State’s championship journey, especially his memorable strip sack touchdown against Texas, definitely drew considerable late attention. Sawyer is not merely defined by those highlights, though…
Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State
Strongly built at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds (according to Ohio State), possibly measuring even larger.
Achieved 9 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 59 total tackles over 16 games in 2024.
Two-time Academic All-Conference in the Big Ten
Five-star prospect and four-year starter at Ohio State
Reaches 23 in May
Advantages
Excellent edge-setter while maintaining focus on his rush.
Polished, uniform stack-and-shed abilities on the exterior.
Extensive, strong arms and enhanced upper-body strength
Effective square-up tackler in the box and immediately after the offensive tackle.
Strong leg propulsion as a bull rusher
Solid stability when off balance and rapid response to a deception
Possesses impressive power-to-speed from his rip and leverage techniques.
Engage with captivating emotional fervor
Drawbacks
Certainly! Here’s the paraphrased version:
Although not lacking in athleticism, Sawyer does not succeed through quick movements or sudden speed.
Tightness in the lower body hinders his capacity to accelerate after contact.
Often goes too vertical when attempting to navigate the corner.
Lacks a chase gear or an exceptional closing speed to the ball.
Will attempt to engage the tackler from a distance and miss the tackle.
Not agile or intuitive enough to transition into coverage at the next level.
In general
It’s instantly clear from every Buckeye game film that Sawyer embodies the qualities of a Dan Campbell/Brad Holmes type of football player. His understanding of football, intensity on each play, and love for the game are clearly evident. Sawyer is quite a strong power-style EDGE force as well.
There are certain genuine athletic constraints that are evident. Sawyer is not a dynamic or agile athlete; he possesses average speed, agility, and quickness, lacking exceptional qualities in any area. He’s somewhat less prominent than the usual “crush the can” style that the Lions have preferred next to Aidan Hutchinson. Sawyer compensates for it as effectively as possible through rapid responses, determination, and exceptional positional accountability.
The initial round is overly indulgent for my preference for Sawyer considering his athletic potential. He ought to be a solid contender for Detroit’s second selection in the draft if he’s available, which is questionable at this moment (it’s February 9th).