South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart Has More to Prove

South Carolina edge Dylan Stewart is a consensus top-10 prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft (NFL Mock Draft Database).

As soon as I saw that⎯

I knew I needed to do the work on him.

What did I think?

Because of the expectation created by that valuation, I ended up disappointed.

Why?

Stewart had one great game against LSU. One great game out of 11.

I need more than that.

Evaluating college prospects is about being able to identify patterns, tendencies, and traits as they relate to the NFL.

One great game is not a pattern.

Tell me more about that LSU game

I was like, Where has this been?

Stewart looked like an electric battering ram. He looked awesome. He was hitting people so hard, it hurt to watch.

Yes, that one game screamed top-10.

But again, this isn’t about one game.

So what was it like studying all 11 games from 2025?

Stewart basically took the first five games off.

Real talk.

Then came the LSU game, and from there, he had his moments in the final five games. He flashed what he showed in that LSU game, but it wasn’t the same. It was more sporadic. It wasn’t dependable.

How important is football to Stewart?

This is one of Hall of Fame Head Coach Bill Parcells’ “Six critical factors of scouting” that I learned during my time with the Jets, and it is the number one question NFL teams need to ask themselves about Stewart.

All the things I thought might have been his issues magically disappeared in that LSU game.

😳

Injuries

This is another major concern with Stewart⎯

According to 247Sports, “[Shane] Beamer said that Stewart “basically had a broken back” that he was attempting to play through. While no surgery is needed, it’s going to take rest to heal properly and get back to full strength.

That article was written on December 3, 2025.

Stewart also suffered a shoulder injury earlier in the season, as reported by Yahoo Sports (August 31, 2025).

But to me, the back seems to be the larger concern at this point.

Why’s that?

Per Yahoo Sports⎯

The back injury is still an issue as of August 2026.

Something to keep a close eye on.

Has that look of a textbook workout warrior

Based on what Stewart put on tape in 2025⎯

He’s the type of prospect who will “test well” in the pre-draft events leading up to the 2027 NFL Draft, provided he’s healthy.

He looks the part, and he flashed that he can play it.

But that’s not it.

NFL teams need prospects who look and play the part.

Consistently.

#6 Dylan Stewart 6-foot-5, 250 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2026 Fall Grade: Second-Round (I wouldn’t select him)

🚩 HIGH INJURY RISK

Projected by NFL Mock Draft Database to be a first-round pick as of September 11, 2026

2025 game film evaluated: Virginia Tech, South Carolina State, Vanderbilt, Missouri, Kentucky, LSU, Oklahoma, Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Clemson (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2027 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Inconsistent bully. Chip on his shoulder. Chiseled athletic build. Strong-looking calves. Long arms. Methodical. Complacent. Sputtering motor. Played in the rotation. Some tightness. Tends to line up on the defense’s left side. Sometimes on the right. Stands up or puts his hands down in the dirt (4-point stance). Projects as a stand-up edge. Gives up too much weight as a true end. Inconsistent get-off. Used hands. Flashes quickness. Showed rip (6x), spin (6x), slap (1x), bull rush (7x), swim (9x), and headfake (6x) pass rush moves. Likes to stunt inside and accelerate unblocked up through the hole. Above-average speed. Average ability to adjust. Shows emotion. Limited pass coverage reps. Mediocre vs. run. Can lose track of the ball. Sometimes fooled by play misdirection and missed too many tackles. Takes things too far sometimes with opponents.

What to watch for during the 2026 college football season

1. Consistent effort?

2. Pass rush moves?

3. How does he look against the run?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as appearing as a guest on ESPN Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and Fearless with Jason Whitlock. Featured in USA Today. For more information, visit whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.