Steelers' Jack Sawyer Gets Quick Reality Check With OLB Trade Potentially On The Horizon

For a long time, the heartbeat of the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense has been the edge rushers. They typically boast one of the NFL's best rooms, and that will be no different in 2026. With TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig all returning for the upcoming season, Pittsburgh will have another year with three star pass rushers. With Herbig signing an extension so recently, it's fair to say he's not going anywhere any time soon, but the same cannot be said for Watt and Highsmith. The organization will likely have to decide between the two after the upcoming NFL season. 

With Watt, Highsmith and Herbig stealing all the attention, former fourth-round pick Jack Sawyer has gotten very overlooked in the Steelers' defense. Sawyer is the team's fourth edge rusher and didn't play much in 2025, but when he was called upon, he made the most of his opportunities. When Watt missed three games due to a failed medical procedure, Sawyer got to show what he could do. There may still be work to be done, but he certainly has potential. 

The former Ohio State Buckeye made lots of splash plays in his rookie season, with two interceptions, one sack, and three tackles for loss. He also had strip sack in a playoff loss to the Houston Texans. Sawyer is a solid run defender, but his pass rush was a bit weak in 2025. A team insider believes that if any edge-rusher moves are made, the second-year man must first show the organization he can be a quality pass rusher. 

Christopher Carter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently appeared on an episode of his show, The North Shore Drive, where he discussed players making year-two leaps. Carter mentions that Sawyer had a solid rookie season despite being fourth on the depth chart, but believes he needs to develop his pass-rush game. When the time comes to move on from Watt or Highsmith, Sawyer will need to step up in a big way. 

"So whether that's sending Watt off, or sending Highsmith off, and keeping Herbig and Sawyer — Sawyer, I think has the chance to make sure he's part of that mix," Carter stated. "But, to do that, he has to continue to grow as a pass rusher; get to the quarterback a little bit quicker." 

Sawyer had nine sacks in his senior year of college, but that was never the strength of his game. He's always been an all-world run-stopper due to his size and aggressiveness, but he lacks the athletic traits that players like Watt and Highsmith possess to be elite pass rushers. Sawyer must continue to soak in as much information as possible from Watt and Highsmith while they're both still Steelers. 

Watt's effect has certainly shown in Sawyer's play, with his tendency to attack the football. It's also shown in Sawyer's pass rush repertoire, adding speed rush moves and even jumping the snap. Sawyer must continue to work on these parts of his game moving forward and add some consistency. If he's able to do that, it makes moving one of Watt or Highsmith a much easier pill to swallow. 

Steelers' Sawyer Gearing Up For Big Year Two

Sawyer will go into the season once again as the fourth edge rusher, but as history shows, he will play more than that. Highsmith and Herbig, unfortunately, often find themselves on the injury report, meaning Sawyer will once again have to make the most of his opportunities if they come. up. If Sawyer can replicate his production proportioned to his snaps, with a little more flash in his pass rushes, that would be huge for the Steelers. 

Hopefully, the former fourth-round pick can turn into another stud found in the later rounds by Omar Khan, and with how the drafts have been going lately, it's not outrageous to assume so. 

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