The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2025 NFL draft.
This past season, Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness combined for 10.5 sacks for the Green Bay Packers. That’s simply not good enough from two former first-round picks.
The Packers gave defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich his walking papers and replaced him with DeMarcus Covington, who served as the New England Patriots defensive coordinator this past season.
It will be up to Covington to get Gary back on track and hopefully help Van Ness enjoy a breakout campaign in 2025.
Even if those two take steps in the right direction, the Packers could still use another edge rusher to team with Gary, Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare and Brenton Cox Jr.
Jack Sawyer is an edge rusher Brian Gutekunst could target on Day 2 during the 2025 NFL Draft. The Ohio State defensive end checks in at No. 75 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A former five-star recruit, Sawyer recorded three sacks during his first season on campus. The following season, Sawyer recorded seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. In 2023, Sawyer recorded 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.
This past season, Sawyer played a key role in helping the Buckeyes win the National Championship. He recorded 59 tackles, nine tackles for loss, nine sacks and one interception. During the College Football Player, Sawyer recorded four sacks and had a fumble return for a touchdown during Ohio State’s semifinal victory over Texas.
“Sawyer was one of four captains for the Buckeyes this season, but he was also the guy who was instrumental in starting the momentum on getting around 10 teammates to put the NFL on hold and return in 2024 for their senior seasons,” Tony Gerdeman, the lead writer for Buckeye Huddle said. “He is the guy who will keep fighting even after the battle is lost, literally and figuratively. Aside from the emotional and leadership aspects, he was also a guy who was never hurt, could play 60 snaps in a game and would just keep playing. He is football.”
Sawyer is a stout run defender and sets a firm edge. The Buckeye defensive end shows the lateral quickness to infiltrate gaps to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. Sawyer plays with a cranked-up motor and has good pursuit speed as a backside defender to chase down ball carriers.
“There have been some people over the years who would tell you he is a better run stopper than pass rusher,” Gerdeman said. “He’s a very smart defender who can set an edge or chase the backside. He keeps his eyes up and doesn’t just lose himself in his pass rush. Sawyer is a very good athlete who can run and chase, or hold up at the point of attack.”
Sawyer has physical hands to wear down offensive linemen. He’s a black belt in hand fighting and utilizes an effective cross shop. He has the power to cave the pocket and finished this past season with a career-high 64 pressures, including 21 during Ohio State’s run to the National Championship in the College Football Playoff.
“In his time at Ohio State, Sawyer was often criticized for not getting to the quarterback enough,” Gerdeman said. “He finished his career with 23 sacks (JT Tuimoloau finished with 24), which is tied for eighth-most in OSU history with former first-round picks Will Smith and Eric Kumerow. In terms of how he wins, he showed against Texas his ability to use speed to get around talented tackles. He can bend and turn a corner. He isn’t just a speed rusher, however. He has spent years working on the minute details of hands and feet and all of the stuff that coaches love
Fit with the Packers
The Packers need to add juice to their pass rush and while Sawyer is nowhere near being the most explosive edge rusher in this class. He’s not a twitched-up edge rusher. However, he has a refined pass rush plan that’s predicated on power and relentless motor.
“If I draft Sawyer, I know that I’m drafting a guy who isn’t going to flake out,” Gerdeman said. “He’s going to be all in at all times. He can be a defensive end in an even front or outside linebacker in an odd front. He could get bigger or smaller depending on what the defense needs. The guy just wants to win and will work to make it happen.”
Adding a player like Sawyer to Green Bay’s defensive end group would give Hafley a player that’s NFL ready. He’s going to bring the same effort on each snap. He’ll help Green Bay’s run defense continue to improve while being a player that could register five to eight sacks during his rookie campaign.
With his skillset, Sawyer could challenge Van Ness for starting reps as a rookie. Regardless if he earns a starting role, a team can never have enough pass rushers and if last year is any indicator, the Packers need to add a pass rusher or two this offseason.
