Whereas it might have been a little bit of a shock choice provided that EDGE didn’t soar off the web page as a Steelers want, the workforce’s number of Jack Sawyer has largely been praised by the nationwide media. NFL Media’s Chad Reuter named it one in every of his favourite picks of the draft, and ESPN’s Subject Yates loves Sawyer’s match with the Steelers too.
On SportsCenter, Yates stated that Sawyer’s mentality is ideal for Pittsburgh.
“Jack Sawyer within the fourth spherical. Pay attention, there are some athletic limitations there. He’s born to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, with that hard-nosed mentality that he performs with. He’s going to set a harmful edge for you.”
Sawyer already described his character (and run protection mentality) as “manhood on manhood,” and he’s the kind of participant whose perspective may assist him thrive with the Steelers. Whereas he has less-than-ideal arm size off the EDGE, so does Nick Herbig, and Herbig’s had a variety of success and appears to do no matter it takes to get to the quarterback. Sawyer brings some pass-rush juice, however his greatest potential is as a run stuffer and setting the sting in opposition to the run, and he’ll be capable to present worth for the Steelers as a rookie and past.
With Alex Highsmith and Herbig each lacking a number of video games as a result of harm final season, including depth at EDGE, particularly with Sawyer falling, was transfer by the Steelers. They bought nice worth with the choice, and he appears tailored to play for the Steelers. Whereas he gained’t have an enormous function as a rookie, he ought to nonetheless see a handful of snaps a recreation, and that will likely be essential to offer T.J. Watt and Highsmith a breather and hold them contemporary all season.
Omar Khan stated throughout a post-draft press convention that they really feel all their choices have a “Steeler DNA,” and Jack Sawyer actually appears to have that. He was a frontrunner at Ohio State and made a variety of key performs because the Buckeyes gained the nationwide championship in 2024. Bringing in gamers with a successful pedigree like Sawyer and his teammate, QB Will Howard, also needs to profit the Steelers.
Studying from a proficient EDGE trio with Watt, Highsmith and Herbig forward of him also needs to solely additional Sawyer’s improvement, and the Steelers will get have a look at how he suits with the workforce when he hits the sphere late subsequent week as a Steeler for the primary time at rookie minicamp.
