Editor’s note: From now until reporting day to training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2025 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between June 12 and July 23. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

OLB JACK SAWYER

Experience/age: Rookie, 23

Contract status: $1.08 million cap hit in 2025, signed through 2028

The past: A native Ohioan who played for four seasons at Ohio State and started his junior and senior years, Sawyer took a star turn during the Buckeyes’ run to the national championship this past season. Sawyer’s strip sack and accompanying 83-yard fumble return for a touchdown late in the semifinal win against Texas was arguably the signature play of their season. In four College Football Playoff games, Sawyer had 13 tackles, seven pass breakups and 4.5 sacks.

A five-star recruit out of high school, the 6-foot-4, 260-pound Sawyer was named second-team all-Big Ten during each of his seasons as a starter. Over that time period (2023 and 2024), Sawyer totaled 14 sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, 104 total tackles, 47 solo tackles and nine pass breakups in 28 games. The Steelers took him with their first selection of Day 3 of the draft in the fourth round with the 123rd overall pick.

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) May 9, 2025

2025 outlook: Sawyer joins arguably one of the highest-profile position groups in the NFL — Steelers edge rusher. A litany of the franchise’s OLBs over the years have made the Pro Bowl, including some who were not high draft picks. Can Sawyer join the likes of Greg Lloyd, Jason Gildon or Joey Porter — all of whom were drafted in the third round or later? The first steps come at training camp, though Sawyer already was making a strong impression during summer workouts.

It won’t happen right away, if for no other reason that — barring injury — Sawyer will spend the season as no higher on the depth chart than the No. 4 outside linebacker behind starters T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith and ace backup Nick Herbig. Sawyer surely will have a prominent role on special teams, too. But before anything else, Sawyer needs to beat out Jeremiah Moon and Eku Leota as OLB4. Sawyer has the talent to do that, but how he performs will dictate what path his career takes.

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