Early Bears Three-Round 2025 Mock Draft: Giving Caleb Williams the Protection He Needs
Round 2, Pick 39: Jack Sawyer, Edge, Ohio State
#OSU EDGE Jack Sawyer makes a habit out of bench pressing offensive tackles and had himself a game against Iowa. 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble to cap off a dominant day for the Buckeyes defense. pic.twitter.com/7W2BZ943AC
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) October 8, 2024
The Bears are still reaping the benefits of trading the first overall pick to the Carolina Panthers in 2022. The last piece of that puzzle is Carolina's 2025 second-round pick. With the direction the season has been going, the Panthers expect another high draft pick. That is something the Bears can take advantage of.
They need all the help they can get on both sides of the ball. With this following selection, we addressed the need for another edge rusher who can start opposite Montez Sweat. Jack Sawyer was the best edge defender available.
The Bears have been looking for another pass-rusher to pair with Sweat. They traded for him back at the 2023 trade deadline and it worked out tremendously. They could have addressed the need in free agency, but why pay a lot for another pass-rusher? The Bears already gave Montez a contract extension, so it would be best to pair him with a young, cost-controlled edge in Sawyer.
He brings everything the Bears have been lacking on the opposite side of Sweat. According to a scouting report by Daniel Harms of the Draft Network, Sawyer "has a good blend of size, get-off, and power to give offensive lines trouble when he gets a head of steam. Sawyer returns to Ohio State as a senior to continue making yearly strides and hopefully reach double-digit sacks." An athletic edge out of Ohio State University, Sawyer would give the Bears a deadly combo.
Sweat faced many double teams this year, and nobody has taken the opportunity outside Gervon Dexter to sack the quarterback. Sweat, being double-teamed, will allow Sawyer to take the pressure off of him and get to the quarterback a lot quicker. The dynamic duo of Sweat and Sawyer would give the Bears a much improved defensive line overall.
Additionally, adding Austin Booker as a rotational piece and Darrell Taylor improves the team's depth. Players such as DeMarcus Walker and Dominique Robinson are or should be cut candidates. Walker has not produced and is an expensive veteran. Dominique Robinson has always been a healthy scratch this season, so the Bears are in desperate need of help on the defensive line.