Julian Sayin 2027 NFL Draft: Scouting report for Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback
· Yahoo Sports
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin is eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft. Here’s what you need to know.
Visit playerbros.org for more information.
Height: 6-foot-1 (listed)
Weight: 208 pounds (listed)
Year: Redshirt Sophomore
Pro Comparison: Righty Tua Tagovailoa
Pros for Julian Sayin
- Throws an easily catchable, accurate football with consistency.
- Illustrates good touch and the ability to layer throws between levels of the defense.
- Rhythm passer who makes timing reps look much easier than they are in reality, which is impressive for a first-year starter.
- 2025 resume was generally efficient with decision-making to keep the ball out of harm’s way - although game appeared to be moving much faster in contests vs. Indiana & Miami at the end of the season.
Cons for Julian Sayin
- Lacks a prototypical frame and stature to inspire confidence that he can endure wear and tear in the pocket.
- Is currently missing a creativity gene for work outside of the structure of the play with consistency.
- Does not appear to have a top-flight arm to create velocity for tight-window targets.
- Compartmentalizing his performance versus the offensive infrastructure at Ohio State will require intimate time in meetings/film room.
Background
Julian Sayin is from Carlsbad, CA and played his high school football for Carlsbad HS. There, he was ranked as a 5-star recruit (247 Sports) and the top ranked prospect out of the state of California. He was awarded the Gatorade Player of the Year Award for California in 2023 while also winning the MVP at the Elite 11 Finals.
Sayin was an early enrollee at the University of Alabama but quickly entered the transfer portal after news hit that Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban was retiring. Sayin quickly landed with the Ohio State Buckeyes in January of 2024. He redshirted his true freshman season before debuting as the team’s starting quarterback in 2025. Sayin, while throwing to a star-studded cast, was named Second-Team All-Big Ten and earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors.
Player Evaluation
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin played the 2025 season with unprecedented efficiency as a first-year starting quarterback at the college level. The appeal here is obvious - as he’s a quick-decision maker with high-end accuracy. He’s a pocket passer who excels in rhythm and distributing the football to a star-studded cast of skill players.
Given that he’s still such a young passer, his developmental curve at Ohio State is going to be informative, although there are legitimate questions about how much higher of a plane of existence he can reach with his physical traits. Sayin has an unassuming frame and while he is an effective vertical passer at Ohio State, the tight window and late-reaction throws reveal some of the concerns about his arm ability.
I respect his willingness to lean into his top targets and charge them with winning at the catch point for him. That said, it did feel like there were times where he got a bit stuck on those opportunities even if there were free access options elsewhere. It’s a tough balance to sustain.
If Sayin develops into an elite processor with supreme pre-snap diagnosis ability, that would serve as the most direct path to mitigating his arm strength questions and his limited abilities outside of structure. Such an approach can win a lot of games, but it may ultimately be something that cools some teams off of his profile.
Without shwing growth from the restrictions of his end-of-year performances against Indiana and Miami, the general narrative may shift to him being among the upper bands of eligible quarterbacks. I’m probably already there, although I do recognize his pathway to being a productive NFL starter. It’s just a more narrow menu than you’d probably prefer for an early draft selection.
NFL Draft
Manning Passing Academy just proved the 2027 NFL Draft could have a few hidden gems at quarterback
Rob Gregson July 7, 2026This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Julian Sayin 2027 NFL Draft: Scouting report for Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback
© 2026 A to Z Sports.