As the Pittsburgh Steelers dive into the 2025 NFL training camp, much of the hype has focused on big name new arrivals and top picks. Yet, within the whirlwind of major headlines there’s one rookie who is quietly making waves for his consistent and versatile performance: fourth-round edge rusher Jack Sawyer from Ohio State. If his early camp showing is any indication, Sawyer may be one of the hidden steals of the Steelers’ draft class.
In a camp brimming with attention on stars like Jalen Ramsey, Aaron Rodgers, first-round pick Derrick Harmon, and even potential future quarterback Will Howard, Jack Sawyer initially risked being overlooked. Early off-season buzz around Sawyer faded as new arrivals took the spotlight, but he has steadily reclaimed attention with his standout work on the field. According to Black and Gold Nation, Sawyer has been seizing opportunities, especially with absences among key defenders during camp.
Sawyer has consistently registered impressive plays in team sessions. According to Alex Kozora, he “rushes like a vet” and is “consistently winning” against competition. While it still is early in training camp, it’s clear at this point that Sawyer has been integrating very well into the pro game in Pittsburgh.
What sets Sawyer apart is a rare balance in his game. He is equally effective against the run and rushing the passer. The norm for edge rushers is that strength in one area comes with a weakness in another. For example, a player who racks up sacks will often lag in run defense, and a run-stopper will lack pass rush prowess. Sawyer breaks that mold. Compared to top prospects from the 2025 draft class, like Abdul Carter, Shamar Stewart, and Ashton Gillotte, Sawyer’s production in both sacks (pass rushing) and run defense is remarkably even.
For example, while Stewart and Gillotte showed a sizable gap between their run defense and sack outputs, Sawyer’s grade’s have almost no gap. This lack of an obvious weakness is rare and obviously very desirable. Most teams have to oscillate between improving one attribute at the cost of the other. They will sign a pass rusher knowing that their run defense will suffer or vice versa. Adding Jack Sawyer has allowed the Steelers to avoid that conundrum.
The below chart highlights that potential issue. The Steelers (in 2024) were slightly below average in sacks (Y-axis) but slightly above average in run defense (X-axis). Most teams would’ve drafted a pass rusher to push the sack numbers above average. But because a normal pass rusher would be weak against the run, that team would then become below average against the run. So, for all intents and purposes, that team wouldn’t improve at all! Sawyer’s skill in both attributes allows the Steelers to improve in their sack total while remaining strong in run defense.
As Pittsburgh thinks long-term (with flexible cap space and restraint in void years), securing contributors like Sawyer on rookie deals (around $1.1 to $1.5 million per year for four years) allows the Steelers to strengthen their roster without compromising future financial decisions. This sets them up well, especially as they plan for the post-Aaron Rodgers era and seek stability around the quarterback position.
Sawyer’s well-roundedness is no recent development. Going back to his time at Ohio State, he posted balanced and strong grades every season. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), as early as 2022, Sawyer logged a 73 grade in run defense and a 70.5 grade in pass rush. By 2023, those marks rose to 86.6 and 86.0, respectively. In 2024, both grades again were elite (82.6 in run defense, 89.4 in pass rush), reinforcing the fact that Sawyer is consistent in his performance.
Compared to existing Steelers defenders, most of whom show an evident bias toward run defense or pass rush (for instance, Nick Herbig excels as a pass rusher but has a weak run defense grade), Sawyer’s consistency stands out. Only established veterans like T.J. Watt share similar grade parity.
All of this positions Sawyer as a cost-effective, reliable player through the coming years. He will be the kind of player who enables flexibility elsewhere on the roster. He may not become the next T.J. Watt, but his all-around game, steady improvement, and cap-friendly deal make him a hidden gem and a likely key cog for the Steelers’ defense.
If his performance continues on its current trajectory, the selection of Jack Sawyer in the fourth round could be regarded as one of the savviest moves Pittsburgh has made in recent memory.
Disclaimer: The content of this article was originally published as a YouTube video on the Saturday Morning Inspection YouTube channel. With AI assistance, the publisher of the video created this article based on the content of that video.
