The Jeffery Simmons trade has changed the Tennessee Titans’ draft picture in a hurry, and one name now sits right in the middle of it: Dylan Stewart.
After sending Simmons to the Chicago Bears late last week, the Titans picked up two first-round picks in the 2027 and 2028 NFL Drafts. That move, combined with an exciting Week 8 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, has pushed Mike Borgonzi’s attention toward April’s draft and what comes next for Tennessee’s roster.
The biggest immediate issue without Simmons showed up where you’d expect it to: the pass rush. Against the Bengals, Tennessee’s pressure was inconsistent, and Jacob Martin was the only defender who regularly disrupted the pocket. If the Titans are looking for a long-term answer to that problem, Stewart is the kind of prospect who jumps off the page.
South Carolina’s EDGE rusher has been impossible to ignore since he stepped on the field as a true freshman. In 2024, he was named Freshman All-American and First Team ALL-SEC, and he has only kept building on that breakout.
Most recently, Stewart delivered one of the biggest plays of his season with a strip sack in the final seconds of South Carolina’s 27-24 win over Tennessee. That turnover set up the Gamecocks to take over in Tennessee territory and ultimately served as the game-winner.
The strip-sack that set us up! @Dylan1Stewart_ x @TomiwaDurojaiye pic.twitter.com/vhxcfy9m3C
- South Carolina Football (@GamecockFB) October 25, 2026
The buzz around Stewart goes beyond production. At 6-foot-5 and roughly 250 pounds, he has the kind of frame NFL teams covet off the edge.
His arm length has not been officially measured, but the rumored 34-inch arms would put him in rare company. That physical profile alone puts him near the top of the class, and his tape makes the case even stronger.
Stewart doesn’t play like a long, upright edge rusher who wins only with length. He can power through tackles with a bull rush and force the pocket backward, but he also has the speed to bend around the corner or knife through gaps on stunts. That blend of tools is what makes him such a difficult problem for offensive lines.
There are questions, though. Stewart has faced alleged character issues during his time in Columbia, including an alleged altercation with head coach Shane Beamer that led to a one-game suspension against Kentucky. Since then, he has kept rolling and continued to build his case as a top draft pick.
In the end, the call belongs to Borgonzi. After moving on from Simmons, it would not be a shock if Tennessee leans into Robert Saleh’s culture and takes a swing on a true game-wrecker in Stewart.
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