The 2025 NFL Draft is now just one week away, as rumors and mock drafts continue to vary on who the Chicago Bears could select with the tenth overall selection next Thursday night. The Bears are in a unique position as the team is not tied to taking a specific position of need and can take the best player available regardless of position. With defensive end being one of those needs, the depth of talent at the edge rusher position, allows the team to focus elsewhere at ten, especially with the presence of Jack Sawyer who could solve the issue on night two of the draft.
Jack Sawyer may not be a flashy selection but has shown a consistency when it matters
Heading into this offseason, the second defensive end position across from Montez Sweat was an obvious need that many fans and analysts believed that general manager Ryan Poles would address in free agency or the draft. The team did little in free agency to address the edge position, as they signed free agent Dayo Odeyingbo, who has recorded 16.5 sacks over the past four years with the Indianapolis Colts. Although Odeyingbo is seen as more of a rotational piece, it is believed that the Bears will select a defensive end with one of their four selections in the first three rounds of the Draft.
Leading up to the draft, the Bears have been linked to several of the top edge rusher prospects, including Abdul Carter, Mike Green, Nic Scourton, Mykel Williams, and Jack Sawyer. Other than Sawyer, the other defensive ends listed are expected to go in either the first round or by the halfway point of the second round. Depending on how the first round of the draft goes, Poles could look to target a player at the position with the second of the Bears’ two second-round picks or use the 72nd overall selection in the third round.
Although Sawyer may not be as flashy as the other defensive ends drawing interest, he still provides a lot of potential at the end position, as he was the arguably one of the most important defensive players on Ohio State’s 2024 National Championship team. Last season, the edge rusher recorded nine sacks and recorded 23 sacks total during his four years at Ohio State. Even more impressive for Jack Sawyer was his ability to demonstrate improvement year-over-year as he recorded more and more sacks every year.
What Sawyer might lack in athleticism, he makes up in determination and knowledge, as he continues to make plays with a high motor and has shown an ability to consistently get to the football whether in run or pass defense. As the competition improved so did Jack Sawyer’s production as he recorded four sacks and six pass break ups during Ohio State’s playoff run that spanned four games. The personality traits also lend to the defensive end working hard for however drafts him, as he could be an ideal fit for a prospect that new defensive end Dennis Allen could develop into a consistent pass-rushing threat.
Sawyer could also be someone that gives the Bears a change of how they have targeted defensive ends in the draft during Poles tenure. Chicago’s general manager has drafted two edge rushers in the mid rounds of the NFL Draft, who were seen as high potential selections because of their athleticism rather than their consistent production level. Jack Sawyer could be what Dominique Robinson or Austin Booker were expected to be, while also being able to take advantage of the added blocking attention focused on Sweat.
Jack Sawyer provides the Bears with a safety net option at defensive end during the 2025 NFL Draft
What Sawyer provides Chicago in the 2025 NFL Draf the most is a fallback option and flexibility if the team’s draft plan doesn’t stay in line. Knowing that there is a quality defensive end potentially available in the third round will allow for Ryan Poles to pivot to another top player at a different position, instead of feeling the need to reach and take the next best player at the end spot. Jack Sawyer is a good enough player to feel comfortable that if the Bears take him in the third round, he can still develop into a reliable defender.
If Mason Graham or Carter aren’t there at ten, but Ashton Jeanty and Tyler Warren are there, Poles would be hard press not to take the best prospect at a skill-position because the team feels a need to add a defensive end. Jack Sawyer enables the Bears to address other needs in the first and second rounds, knowing that it would be considered a reach if he were to be selected before the third round. Sawyer is apart a deep group of defensive end prospects, where the quality of depth may not run as deep at other positions of need for Chicago.
Imagine a scenario where the Bears are able to walk away with drafting Warren with the tenth selection, a running back and an offensive lineman in the second round, along with Sawyer in the third. Those four selections would address Chicago’s most significant roster needs, all before the team begins to draft for depth in the mid and late rounds on the Saturday of the draft. If Chicago can get a better defensive end in the first round, if other talents are off the board, take the player, but there is flexibility due to depth on night two of the draft.
There Bears will have options for their first four selections of the 2025 NFL Draft, but one pick will have to be used on a defensive end. Sawyer gives Chicago a chance to address other positions first as he could be an edge rusher that could be perfect for Allen’s 4-3 defensive front. The key to the NFL Draft is executing a plan to the best of its ability and being able to adjust the second the plan is knocked off course, Jack Sawyer allows for a safety net if the edge rusher plan changes earlier on.
Chicago Bears are ‘praying’ prospect falls to them at No. 10 in draft
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