Julian Sayin’s rise at Ohio State has already put him in rare air. In his first season as the Buckeyes’ starter, he led the country in completion percentage and finished as a Heisman Trophy finalist, putting together the kind of year that made him one of the best players in the nation.
Now he enters 2026 with Ohio State sitting at No. 1 and Sayin among the favorites to win the Heisman. He’s expected to be the engine for a team chasing a national championship. But not everyone is ready to project him as an NFL superstar.
While appearing on The Ryen Russillo Show, Todd McShay of The Ringer said he sees Sayin as a first-round talent, but not a future No. 1 overall pick.
"I don't think Julian Sayin ever has the chance to be the number-one overall pick. I think if he maxes this thing out, he's a top-15 pick.
Something like that. I could see him being mid-to-late first-round, probably not after this year, but after the next year."
McShay’s view is even cooler than that when it comes to this season. He doesn’t believe Sayin is currently on track to crack the top 15 after the year ahead, even though Sayin is determined to prove that wrong. McShay also mentioned LaNorris Sellers as a player who could go first overall, despite Sellers being a major disappointment last season at South Carolina.
There’s still a clear path for Sayin to hear his name early on draft night if he stacks strong performances this fall. The bigger hurdle, according to the source, is the top spot.
At least in the eyes of NFL evaluators, size and traits can carry more weight than production, and Sayin’s accuracy is his calling card. He’s described as the most accurate thrower in the country.
McShay did offer one notable comparison: Drew Brees. That’s not a small name to toss around. Brees put together a Hall of Fame career and won a Super Bowl, which is the kind of trajectory any quarterback would happily sign up for.
Still, the pushback on Sayin won’t disappear just because the numbers are loud. If he puts up huge stats, critics will likely point to the receiver help around him. Jeremiah Smith is one obvious name, and Carnell Tate was also part of the supporting cast before going fourth overall last April.
Even with that backdrop, another year in Columbus wouldn’t hurt Ohio State. The Buckeyes would gladly keep one of the country’s most accurate quarterbacks as their starter for a third straight season.
And with Arthur Smith in place, Sayin should be set up to put up massive numbers this year. The challenge now is turning all that production into proof that the doubters are wrong.
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