Dylan Stewart
South Carolina#4 overallDraft Movement
Up 2 spots since Jun 8
Scouting Report
Dylan Stewart enters his sophomore year as one of the most coveted edge prospects in the 2027 class, a Washington, DC native who has emerged at South Carolina as a true blue-chip pass rusher with a rare combination of length, bend and burst. Listed at 6-5, 245 pounds, Stewart plays with the height and frame of a prototypical NFL strong-side defender, yet flashes the corner-flattening agility teams covet on third down. He grades as a top-ten edge in the class, and the scouting consensus places him among the top 30 prospects overall, signaling clear agreement that he projects as a first-round talent. As a freshman he posted 4.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 33 total tackles and 19 solo stops, production that stood out given the SEC competition and limited snap counts that typically come with a true freshman rotation role. Stewart's tape shows a long-strider with promising hand technique and the kind of natural pad level you can only coach so much given his height. The biggest jumps for 2026 will come in finishing power rushes, expanding his counter package and proving he can hold up against SEC tackles in the run game. If the trajectory holds, Stewart has the trait base to chase top-15 status before the 2027 cycle.
The Tape
Strengths
- Prototypical 6-5, 245 EDGE frame with length to set a hard edge against SEC tackles
- First-step explosion off the snap that translated to 4.5 sacks as a true freshman
- Knack for the strip, 3 forced fumbles shows finishing instincts at the point of attack
- Three-down versatility, can drop into space or rush from a two-point stance
- Production efficiency relative to snap count was elite among 2027 freshmen edges
- Scouting consensus already rates him a top-30 overall prospect and a top-ten edge
- Plays with natural bend for a player his height, flashing ability to dip and corner
- Recruiting pedigree and DC-area development pipeline back up the trait projection
Weaknesses
- Sophomore-eligible with only one year of college tape, so the projection still carries freshman-year variance
- Listed weight at 245 is light for SEC run downs and he'll need to add functional mass
- Counter-rush package is still developing, wins on this tape are mostly first-move
- Hand usage flashes but is inconsistent shedding NFL-caliber tackles
- Anchor against double teams remains a question mark given current frame
NFL Comparison
Trevon Walker-style length and first-step burst from a tweener LB/EDGE frame; flashes of Will Anderson Jr.'s bend-around-the-corner finish on speed rushes; long-term ceiling in the Travon Walker / Jermaine Johnson II range if the mass and counter package develop
College Stats
2025 (Fr): 4.5 sacks, 3 FF, 33 total tackles, 19 solo tackles
College Market Value
Our model prices him at $2.06M on the open college market, built from production, pedigree, role and South Carolina's program money. No credible deal has been reported for him this season.
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Measurables
Awards & Honors
Grades as a top-tier LB/EDGE prospect in the 2027 class; first-round overall projection; ranked among the top two players at his position across national boards; Five-star recruit out of Washington, DC