Dylan Stewart 2027 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Top-Five Pick Upside?

Dylan Stewart enters the 2027 NFL Draft cycle as one of the premier EDGE prospects in college football. The South Carolina pass rusher has the length, first-step explosiveness, bend, and closing burst to become a top-10 prospect, with a realistic pathway into the top-five conversation if his 2026 tape confirms a complete three-down profile.

In this Dylan Stewart 2027 NFL Draft scouting report, we break down his Football Scout 365 grade, film evaluation, player comparison, strengths, concerns, production profile, and NFL projection.

What Is Dylan Stewart’s 2027 NFL Draft Projection?

Dylan Stewart projects as an early Round 1 prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft with top-five upside. His grade is built on premium pass-rush traits: explosive get-off, rare bend, length, closing speed, and disruptive flashes from wide alignments. The separator in 2026 will be whether he adds more counter development, functional strength, and run-game consistency to become a complete NFL EDGE.

Dylan Stewart 2027 NFL Draft Scouting Report Overview

South Carolina lists Dylan Stewart as a 6-foot-5, 250-pound junior EDGE from Washington, D.C. The official school profile credits him with 56 career tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 12 quarterback hurries, and 24 games played through his first two seasons. He was a Freshman All-American in 2024 and a second-team All-SEC selection by the league’s coaches in 2025.

Stewart’s freshman season established his early first-round trajectory. He produced 23 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one pass breakup while starting 11 games. In 2025, he followed with 33 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, eight quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, and three forced fumbles across 11 appearances.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNsEr3MRbj0

The recruiting profile matches the early college production. Stewart was a former five-star EDGE prospect, ranked No. 19 nationally, No. 2 at EDGE, and No. 1 in Washington, D.C. by 247Sports in the 2024 class. His high school scouting profile highlighted speed-to-power ability, bend, suddenness, burst, and early-round NFL Draft upside.

The 2026 evaluation checkpoint is health and three-down consistency. Stewart dealt with an injury-impacted 2025 season, and Shane Beamer’s spring update framed rest as part of the plan to get him back to full strength before the season. If Stewart’s junior tape shows improved counters, stronger edge-setting ability, and sustained pass-rush disruption, his profile can move from a high-end first-round projection to a top-five defensive prospect.

Film Evaluation

Stewart wins first with acceleration, length, and cornering ability. His get-off creates immediate stress from wide alignments, forcing tackles into vertical sets before he dips, reduces his surface area, and flattens to the quarterback. His speed-rush profile is the foundation of his NFL projection.

The next step is building a more complete rush plan. Stewart has enough speed-to-power flashes to keep tackles honest, but he needs more consistent hand sequencing, counters, and inside answers when his first move is cut off. That will determine whether he becomes a high-end pass-rush specialist or a true three-down EDGE.

Against the run, Stewart’s length and range give him pursuit value, but his early-down consistency still needs refinement. He must continue improving his play strength, edge-setting technique, and ability to stay square through contact. If that part of the profile catches up in 2026, he can move firmly into the top-five conversation.

Player Comparison: Von Miller

Comparison Type: Trait-Based / Ceiling Comparison

Dylan Stewart has a Von Miller-style ceiling profile because of his first-step explosiveness, bend, arc-running ability, and closing burst from wide or stand-up alignments. The comparison fits through the speed-rush and athletic-ceiling lens, especially Stewart’s ability to win with twitch, dip, and cornering ability before tackles can square him up.

Grade and Projection

Grade Tier: Near Elite

Draft Projection: Early Round 1 projection with top-five upside

Stewart lands in the Near Elite tier because his best traits are premium NFL traits. First-step explosiveness, bend, length, closing burst, and pass-rush disruption give him a legitimate EDGE1 pathway and a top-10 profile entering the 2026 season.

He has not moved into the Elite tier yet because the full profile still needs further refinement. To reach that level, Stewart must prove he can win with more than athleticism, build a more complete counter package, hold the edge with greater consistency, and remain disruptive when offenses slide protection toward him.

Dylan Stewart 2027 NFL Draft Questions

What is Dylan Stewart’s 2027 NFL Draft projection?

Dylan Stewart projects as an early Round 1 prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft with top-five upside if his 2026 tape confirms a complete three-down EDGE profile.

Is Dylan Stewart one of the best EDGE prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft?

Yes. Stewart’s first-step explosiveness, bend, length, and SEC production put him among the top EDGE prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft cycle.

What are Dylan Stewart’s biggest strengths?

Stewart’s biggest strengths are his explosive get-off, cornering ability, bend, closing burst, length, and ability to create immediate pressure from wide alignments.

What does Dylan Stewart need to improve before the 2027 NFL Draft?

Stewart needs to improve his counter package, hand sequencing, functional strength, and run-game consistency to lock in a top-five draft profile.

What NFL scheme fits Dylan Stewart best?

Stewart fits best in an attacking front as a stand-up 3-4 outside linebacker or wide-9 defensive end where he can rush from space and threaten the edge.

Who is Dylan Stewart’s NFL player comparison?

Stewart’s trait-based ceiling comparison is Von Miller because of his explosive first step, bend, arc-running ability, and closing burst. The comp is based on athletic traits and pass-rush archetype, not a direct career projection.