Jack Sawyer

Career StatsD

Year	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT
Career		17	34	1.0	2
2025		17	34	1.0	2

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

This Jack Sawyer deal earns a B+ CVI and represents solid value for Pittsburgh, landing squarely in "fair deal" territory for a rotational linebacker with upside potential. At $1.3M per year, the Steelers are paying rotational player money for rotational player production, which creates a favorable risk-reward scenario given Sawyer's athletic profile and development trajectory. The four-year term provides the franchise with cost certainty through his prime developmental window, while the modest $1.0M guaranteed commitment protects Pittsburgh from significant downside risk if he doesn't progress as expected. The contract structure is particularly smart — if Sawyer develops into an above-average starter, this becomes a steal; if he remains a rotational piece, the Steelers aren't overpaying for that role. Pittsburgh continues to demonstrate shrewd roster building by securing promising young defensive talent at market-appropriate rates, giving them flexibility to invest elsewhere while maintaining defensive depth that could surprise.

Performance Analysis

Jack Sawyer is a 23-year-old rookie linebacker attempting to carve out a rotational role in Pittsburgh's defense across 17 career games. Early returns earn him a D grade, which, while concerning, requires rookie context — most edge defenders need two-to-three seasons before registering meaningfully against NFL starters. Compared to historical rookie linebacker benchmarks, Sawyer is tracking below even modest developmental curves. His tackles-per-game rate of 2.00 sits well below the NFL average of 3.80, and his sacks-per-game mark of 0.06 trails the league average of 0.23 by a significant margin. The one legitimate bright spot is pass deflections, where his 0.24 per game edges the NFL average of 0.20, hinting at functional coverage awareness and athleticism. However, his tackles-for-loss rate of 0.15 per game — against an NFL average of 0.40 — signals real concerns about his ability to disrupt in the backfield consistently. Sawyer's F-grade 2025 season suggests developmental stagnation rather than a clear upward trajectory, but Pittsburgh's coaching staff has historically developed young defenders with patience. If he can double his TFL rate and become a reliable tackler in Year 2, a C-range grade becomes realistic. Watch his motor and assignment discipline in training camp — those intangibles will determine whether this is a slow burn or a roster casualty.

Current Sentiment

Jack Sawyer enters the 2026 season having generated genuine buzz as one of the more intriguing developmental stories on the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense. His rookie campaign was marked by a standout forced fumble on C.J. Stroud that signaled real pass-rush instincts, and media coverage consistently framed him as a meaningful contributor rather than a depth afterthought. The narrative connecting Sawyer to T.J. Watt — even loosely — reflects the optimism surrounding his trajectory within a historically strong outside linebacker room. Coverage heading into the new season is notably constructive, with analysts pointing to his growing role as the Steelers' linebacker depth has thinned, elevating his opportunity profile considerably. While Sawyer remains a developmental player without the accolades or contract to command star-tier perception, the media and fan sentiment around him is decidedly upward-trending and warrants close attention as training camp approaches.