2026 NFL draft proves Julian Sayin held back Ohio State in 2025

Let's be clear at the start of this discussion: For a redshirt freshman, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin had a pretty good season. Freshmen and sophomores are supposed to struggle to a certain degree. They aren't supposed to have everything figured out. Sayin completed a high percentage of his passes and ran the Ohio State offense very capably. On balance, he had a good year ... for a player going through his first full season as a college starter. Yet, the reality of being a younger player, with all its limitations, prevented the Buckeyes from doing more. The 2026 NFL draft pounded home this basic point.

Carnell Tate at No. 4

Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate being the first Buckeye off the board at No. 4 showed very clearly why Julian Sayin held back the Buckeyes. Ohio State used a short, high-percentage passing game, which didn't maximize Tate's production. Ohio State -- not unreasonably, it should be said -- wanted to make the game simpler and safer for Sayin as a comparatively less experienced player. Nevertheless, the passing game was not as dynamic as it was in the CFP the season before with Will Howard. Tate rising to the top five showed Sayin wasn't ready to maximize Ohio State's high-end weapons last season.

Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs

Ohio State had three defensive players go off the board in the first 11 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft. Julian Sayin had a great defense behind him and still couldn't win a playoff game or the Big Ten title.