Dylan Stewart keeps top-10 standing in 2027 NFL Draft projections
South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart remains a top-10 prospect in Mel Kiper Jr.'s first 2027 NFL Draft big board. Kiper ranks Stewart No. 9 overall and second among edge defenders. Despite limited snaps due to suspension and a back injury, Stewart has 10 quarterback pressures and two forced fumbles in three games.
Dylan Stewart, a South Carolina edge rusher and former five-star recruit, remains No. 9 on Mel Kiper Jr.'s initial 2027 top-25 board. Kiper lists him as the second-best edge defender, behind Texas' Colin Simmons, who leads the nation in sacks.
A suspension after punching an Alabama player and a back injury have limited Stewart's snaps, yet he has 10 pressures and two forced fumbles across three games. Against Florida, he recorded a sack, two forced fumbles, and multiple pressures, including one on an interception. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound defender is South Carolina's clearest first-round projection.
Stewart's continued top-10 projection could shape how fans, recruits, and media discuss South Carolina football, while NFL teams may weigh his limited 2026 snaps against his disruptive flashes. For Stewart, the ranking may affect endorsement interest, draft preparation, and public expectations. The broader college sports landscape could see similar cases where off-field discipline and injury concerns are balanced against on-field production, influencing how prospects, programs, and analysts value available game film.