Dylan Stewart (edge rusher, South Carolina) is a true junior coming into the 2026 season. Stewart dealt with a back injury in 2025 and missed spring practice. How does he project in the 2027 NFL Draft?
Dylan Stewart Early Scouting Report
Measureables
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 245 lbs
Dylan Stewart: Statistics
2025 (true sophomore): 4.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and 33 tackles.
2024 (true freshman): 6.5 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 23 tackles.
The Tape
Games Watched: at Missouri, Alabama, and at Texas A&M
Strengths
Stewart has a long frame and is clearly an elite-level athlete. He’s a real threat to win with his get off, dip, and closing burst. That get-off also helps him get penetration and disrupt against the run.
Stewart is not a one-trick pony, though. He has a nice swim move, can get his man’s weight going one way and suddenly change direction, and he also shows flashes of speed and power.
When Stewart is asked to stunt in, his athletic ability makes it difficult for interior offensive linemen to deal with his speed. He has a sudden, extra-quick step that is just too much for less athletic guards and centers to handle.
Dylan Stewart stunts inside from the left – that one explosive step is why he's ranked so highly. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/xGBDZdUqcg
— Paul Emery (@UKDraftFan) May 25, 2026
Many college edge rushers rely on one move far too much, but Stewart varies his attacks. His speed rush is his best move, and while he does use it, it’s not even the move he uses the most. Stewart most often attacks half his man. His speed to power move attacks the whole of his man, but it’s not a move he uses much. Given his skill set, this shows an understanding of his own game.
Areas to Improve
The first area Stewart must improve is his conditioning. Despite rotating out, he visibly looks tired at times. When he’s tired, he plays far too high and is easily controlled.
At 6’5” 245 lbs, Stewart is long but lean. He projects as a taller Nik Bonitto-type of player, but is not used in that way by South Carolina. His usage was vanilla, mainly employed as the left defensive end. Occasionally, he’ll line up on the right side of the defense or drop inside to a five-technique spot. It would be nice to see him line up more as a joker, as this is how the NFL is most likely to use him. This would also help him avoid being double-teamed.
Stewart needs to improve his eye discipline against the run. Opponents use his desire to get up the field and penetrate against him. From the backside, he will lose containment, and he must find the ball quicker.
He needs to get stronger to help when teams run right at him. If his initial burst doesn’t allow him to penetrate, he can be pushed around too much.
Alabama TE #80 (slot right) controls Dylan Stewart on a run right at him. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/k0Iia8ri2B
— Paul Emery (@UKDraftFan) May 25, 2026
While Stewart does vary his attacks as a pass rusher, he does still overuse the swim move. When he plays too high, he gives up his chest and can then struggle to get his man’s hands off him. It’s not his best move, and should be relegated to one he uses significantly less.
Back Injury
Stewart dealt with a back injury last season. It caused him to miss the Coastal Carolina game and the second half of the Clemson game.
Stewart did not take part in spring training, as the decision was made to try to solve the problem with complete rest. Surgery has not been ruled out if this does not resolve the problem.
Deone Walker struggled with a back injury in the build-up to the 2025 NFL Draft, also electing to rest the injury. This caused Walker to fall in the Draft (fourth round pick, Buffalo Bills), despite being a unique athlete for his size.
Should Stewart declare for the 2027 NFL Draft, his medical will be crucial for his draft placement. An injury that could recur would cause Stewart’s stock to fall.
Dylan Stewart: Key Tests in 2026
South Carolina’s schedule gets significantly tougher after their October 17 bye week. Prior to that, they do have tough road games at Alabama (week four) and at Florida (week six).
After the bye week, Stewart will need to be at his best to face Tennessee, at Oklahoma, and Texas A&M, before a slight respite at Arkansas. The Gamecocks then finish off the season hosting Georgia, before the traditional end-of-season Clemson matchup (on the road this year).
Stewart, as with most SEC draft prospects, will have a great chance to boost his stock against a tough schedule.
The full schedule can be found here.
Dylan Stewart: 2027 NFL Draft Projection
Stewart is clearly an elite athlete. However, he is still putting everything together. Right now, he is more upside than finished product. His wide array of pass rush moves is encouraging, but he will need to get bigger and stronger.
Hopefully, South Carolina will use him in more exotic looks, as right now, it’s all basic and doesn’t help him avoid the double teams he attracts.
Stewart’s back injury clouds his stock. Hopefully, rest cures the problem, and he can avoid surgery.
If Stewart can put it all together in 2026, he has the ability to be a high pick, but he does have improvement to be made to his game to cement this status.
Main Photo: [Jeff Blake] – Imagn Images
