For Ohio State fans who have watched Julian Sayin grow into one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country, the latest mock draft projection carries a familiar mix of excitement and questions about what comes next.
Draft Sharks analyst Shane Hallam has the Pittsburgh Steelers selecting the Buckeyes signal-caller with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. The projection arrives as Pittsburgh prepares for what has been billed as Aaron Rodgers’ final season under center.
From the Ohio State side, the idea of Sayin landing in the top 10 feels like validation of the work he put in during his first full year as the starter. In 2025 he completed a nation-leading 77 percent of his passes for 3,610 yards, 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He finished second nationally in passing efficiency and earned a spot as a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Those numbers were built in an offense that featured playmakers such as wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, yet Sayin still had to make the throws that kept drives alive and kept the Buckeyes competitive in the Big Ten. Supporters in Columbus point to his accuracy and decision-making as the traits that could translate cleanly to the next level.
Hallam addressed the debate surrounding Sayin directly.
“Sayin will be a controversial prospect,” Hallam wrote. “He certainly is propped up by his offense with WR Jeremiah Smith as his main target. But, his weak arm strength and lack of highlight throws makes him a tough sell. Even so, his accuracy and ability to work within a system fits well with HC Mike McCarthy and could make him the Steelers QB of the future.”
That assessment lands differently when viewed through a scarlet-and-gray lens. Ohio State coaches and fans have long argued that Sayin’s strength is his ability to operate within structure, protect the football and distribute the ball to talented receivers rather than force highlight-reel plays. Those same qualities could appeal to a Steelers team looking for a long-term answer after Rodgers.
Pittsburgh already has young quarterbacks on the roster. The Steelers took Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 draft and still have Will Howard, a sixth-round selection from the previous year, in the mix alongside veteran Mason Rudolph. Selecting Sayin at No. 9 would signal that the organization wants more certainty at the position.
For Buckeyes supporters, the projection raises the stakes for Sayin’s second season as the starter. Another strong year could lock in the kind of draft capital Hallam is projecting. A step back might push him further down boards and open the door for other quarterbacks such as Arch Manning, Dante Moore or LaNorris Sellers to climb higher.
Sayin has already shown he can handle the spotlight that comes with starting for Ohio State. The completion percentage, the efficiency ranking and the Heisman consideration all arrived while he was still learning the full offense and adjusting to the speed of Big Ten defenses. Those who have followed him closely believe the next season will reveal even more about his readiness for the NFL.
The mock draft order used by Hallam was shaped by Super Bowl betting odds rather than a pure projection of the 2026 standings, so the Steelers’ spot at No. 9 is not a guarantee they will finish near the bottom of the league. Still, the placement of Sayin inside the top 10 reflects the growing sense that he belongs in the early conversation.
Ohio State’s program has produced its share of NFL quarterbacks in recent years, and each has faced questions about arm strength, scheme fit or supporting cast. Sayin’s path has been different, defined more by precision than raw power. That profile matches the description Hallam offered when explaining why Pittsburgh could be a logical landing spot.
If the projection holds, Sayin would arrive in a Steelers quarterback room that already includes players the coaching staff has publicly praised. Head coach Mike McCarthy has spoken positively about the group’s depth, yet a top-10 selection would change the hierarchy quickly.
From Columbus the focus remains on the present. Sayin still has an entire college season ahead of him, with conference games, potential playoff runs and another chance to prove the efficiency of 2025 was no fluke. The mock draft simply adds an extra layer of attention to every throw he makes this fall.
Buckeye fans will watch closely to see whether Sayin continues to complete passes at an elite rate and whether the supporting cast around him remains as dangerous as it was a year ago. Those results will shape how the rest of the league views him when the 2027 draft approaches.
For now the prediction from Draft Sharks serves as an early marker. It places an Ohio State quarterback in the first round and ties him to a franchise that has a clear need after this season. Whether it materializes will depend on how Sayin performs when the games that matter most begin again in the fall.
