For Ryan Day and the Buckeyes, Julian Sayin could hold the key to how far this season goes. The quarterback’s first campaign had its imperfections, but his impressive start was enough to put him under the radar of several evaluators. Now, despite obvious room for growth, ESPN’s scouts appear to have some serious concerns about him.

Recently, ESPN NFL insider Jordan Reid grouped college QBs by where they are currently projected to be selected in the 2027 NFL Draft. While evaluating several QBs, he gave Sayin a balanced assessment, but there are some concerns.

“Sayin is a point guard-like distributor whose game centers on accuracy (FBS-high 77% completion rate last season). Some evaluators see him as a Round 1-caliber player, while others question his physical tools and have him in the Day 2 range,” wrote Reid.

The analyst further added that scouts are quite divided on him, with some believing he is a Day 2 draft pick and others believing selecting him that early would be a stretch. Now, the question is, why the divide among the scouts? Well, the answer lies in how he played last season.

Sayin’s debut season as Ohio State’s starter ended with a 12-2 record. However, at one point, the Buckeyes were undefeated in the regular season. The QB threw for 3,610 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a remarkable 77% completion rate. While the numbers are phenomenal and certainly fit the profile of a first-round draft pick, there is more to consider.

The context that many ignore is Ohio State’s schedule, which offered very few challenges during the regular season last season. The lone tough opponent the Buckeyes faced was Texas, and even against them, Ryan Day limited Sayin’s responsibilities, choosing to win with defense rather than relying on the offense.

While the head coach certainly increased his responsibilities, what caught them off guard was the inconsistency, especially against tougher opponents. Julian Sayin struggled with consistency against the Indiana Hoosiers, whom Ohio State lost to 1-13, and the Miami Hurricanes, whom they lost to 14-24.

“I liked his tape, but the traits are just so limited in a near-perfect setup of surroundings, and you saw that in the playoff,” one NFC scout said, via ESPN.

There’s no doubt that Sayin is one of the best QBs in the country right now, but for him to become a first-round draft pick, he needs to improve his game, and this season could prove to be monumental for him.

Ryan Day shares his blunt take on Julian Sayin’s future

Last season was a wake-up call for the star QB, and he might have understood where he needs to change his game and which aspects he needs to remove completely. Head coach Ryan Day has said the young QB has worked hard to improve his game.

“He’s worked really hard this offseason to change his body, to continue to get stronger. But also just overall experience. Things are going to move more slowly for him this year. He’s somebody who, to me, cares a lot about his teammates, but he is very, very intelligent, one of the smarter guys that I’ve been around, and we’ve had some really smart quarterbacks here, but he can really handle high levels of information fast,” said Ryan Day in his conversation with 97.1 The Fan—Ohio’s Sports Destination.

Many critics pointed out Sayin’s reluctance to use his legs after the losses to Indiana and Miami. The QB specifically struggled under pressure. It didn’t help that the O-line couldn’t protect Sayin, as he was sacked more in those two games than in the entirety of the regular season. With a new offensive coordinator in Arthur Smith, Sayin can unlock another part of his game, especially in the run game.

And while Carnell Tate has left for the NFL, Ohio State still has Jeremiah Smith to rely on. Moreover, the Buckeyes are returning a major chunk of their O-line, which should make Sayin feel better about the pass protection heading into the 2026 season. As far as the draft projections are concerned, no one had Fernando Mendoza going No. 1 last season. A lot can change over a campaign.