Dylan Stewart — 2027 NFL Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

With all due respect to the "skill-position" talent expected to be available in the 2027 draft, Stewart is one of the blue-chip prospects that has scouts the most excited. He enters his junior campaign with "just" 11 career sacks to his credit, but his size, twitch and flexibility help him project as a 10-plus sack monster in the NFL with All-Pro upside. If the Jets want a quarterback bad enough, they have the draft picks to move up, including this and two other first-round picks.

The freshman All-American also suffered a slight backslide in 2025. Like Williams, he can be an absolute force at an expensive position for NFL veterans.

Stewart uses his long frame, tenacity and overpowering strength to set the edge against the run. He's also surprisingly twitched up as a pass rusher, consistently collapsing the pocket with an explosive blend of length and suddenness.

The Saints haven't been able to figure out edge rusher since Trey Hendrickson departed after the 2020 season and need a dynamic rusher opposite Chase Young. Stewart is an electric player with high-end lower-body flexibility, which helps him consistently race past blockers. Despite a slender frame, he has good initial pop in his hands, but he must get stronger to anchor and sustain as an edge setter. Stewart also needs to turn more of his pass rushes into sacks, as he had only 4.5 last season. Being more consistent with counter moves would lessen the amount of "almost" plays. If that happens, Stewart could be the first non-QB off the board.

After a Freshman All-America season in 2024, Stewart wasn't as dominant on the 2025 tape. However, his athletic twitch at 6 feet 5 inches tall and 245 pounds is what NFL teams covet at the position.

One of the most explosive pass rushers in the country over the past two seasons, Stewart's production doesn't fully capture his impact. With a long, wiry frame and excellent length, he covers ground quickly, flashing elite speed, bend and occasional power that make him difficult to contain off the edge. While his down-to-down consistency remains an area for improvement, the former five-star offers the kind of upside teams bet on early.

Aging pass rusher Andrew Van Ginkel will likely need to be replaced after this season, and Dylan Stewart is one of the most explosive athletes in the upcoming class. Similar to Coleman-Williams, he cooled off as a sophomore after a standout freshman season. Regardless, 88 pressures over two years of SEC play warrant early first-round consideration. Quarterback could also be an option for Minnesota if J.J. McCarthy continues to struggle.

I've been enamored with Stewart since he took over the SEC as a true freshman in 2024. He possesses all the traits of a dominant professional edge defender and would give Tennessee a bonafide playmaker on the edge to complement the heavy investment into their offense the last two years.