Ohio State Buckeyes edge rusher Jack Sawyer was widely viewed as a Day 2 prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft, with some analysts grading him as a second-rounder.
But three rounds have been completed, and Sawyer has yet to hear his name in Green Bay. Despite the absence of any injury concerns, what could be the reason behind his drop? Let’s take a look.
Examining Jack Sawyer’s Fall to Day 3 of 2025 NFL Draft
Sawyer was the hero of the Buckeyes’ national championship run and was riding high heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. Given the season he was coming off, Sawyer was widely projected to be picked on Day 2 of the draft. But after three rounds with over a dozen edge rushers drafted, the Ohio State standout has yet to hear his name called.
The biggest reason behind Sawyer’s fall could be his limited athleticism and upside. Sawyer has a high floor and could be an immediate contributor for a team, but he doesn’t have as high a ceiling as other players. Teams often swing for the fences and look for high-upside prospects in the draft, so perhaps that is why Sawyer is falling.
PFSN analyst Jacob Infante raised similar concerns about Sawyer in his PFSN scouting report, writing, “There are players in this draft class with higher athletic ceilings than Sawyer, which could prevent him from getting selected in the first round. His speed and bend could limit him a bit in the pros, as it did at times in college.”
Initially viewed as a Day 2 prospect in the 2024 class, Sawyer decided to stay in school for another year. After finishing as an All-Big Ten defender and a key part of their championship victory in the 2024 season, it was clear Sawyer had made the right choice, finishing the year with nine sacks, 59 total tackles, seven pass deflections, and three forced fumbles. He also recovered three fumbles, returning two of them for touchdowns.
Arguably the biggest moment of Sawyer’s collegiate career came in the 2025 Cotton Bowl, when Ohio State played Texas in a postseason semifinal matchup. With the Longhorns knocking on the door of the end zone to tie the game up in the fourth quarter, Sawyer strip-sacked Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers. He recovered the ball and returned the fumble 83 yards for a touchdown.
Nonetheless, despite the unexpected slide, Sawyer remains one of the best players available at his position heading into Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft and should find plenty of suitors in the fourth or fifth round.
