Analyst Reveals Where NFL Teams Stand on Texas Longhorns' T'Vondre Sweat After Arrest

Once considered a fringe first round pick, ESPN believes Longhorns DT T'Vondre Sweat could fall into the later rounds following his arrest.

Texas Longhorns defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat (93) tries to bat down the ball against Kansas / Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman

Texas Longhorns defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat was at one time considered to be a fringe Day 1 or Early Day 2 NFL Draft pick.

However, following his arrest early Sunday morning on DWI charges, it is unclear how much his stock has been affected, or how far he could fall when the draft kicks off.

On Friday, ESPN analyst Matt Miller weighed in on Sweat's situation and revealed where he believes Sweat could land on draft weekend, and that there could be more to his stock falling than just his legal issue.

Texas Longhorns defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat (93) tries to bat down the ball against Kansas / Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman

"Former Texas defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat was arrested for driving while intoxicated last weekend. Sweat was the driver of the SUV and was released from jail after posting bond," Miller said. "Considered a Day 2 prospect by most evaluators, Sweat's stock is in jeopardy following the arrest. The period between the combine and draft is often a test for prospects, and Sweat's arrest this close to the draft limits the time he has to explain the incident to teams and assuage concerns. Because of that -- and concerns over his playing weight at 366 pounds -- most teams I've spoken to believe he's a Day 3 selection."

Sweat's weight was been a topic of conversation throughout last season and the NFL Combine in Indianapolis earlier this spring. But while it was viewed as ideal, he still seemed to be relatively high on draft boards to the point where he was projected by experts as Day 1 or Day 2 pick.

Should Sweat enter the league at 366 pounds, it would immediately thrust him into the conversation as the heaviest players at his position in the NFL at the defensive tackle position. Currenrly Quinton Bohanna is listed as 360 pounds, and the heaviest defensive tackle.

Vita Vea - the NFL's second heaviest defensive tackle at 347 pounds - has shown that success can be had at a high weight, but that is still 19 pounds less than Sweat's current weight. In other words, he will need to prove he can play consistent football at that size, or drop some weight to satisfy team's concerns in that department.

As for his legal situation, it is unclear how much he could truly fall after the DWI charge. There is a good deal of variance in terms of players draft stock being affected by legal situations just before the draft.

Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil is one such example.

In the 2013 NFL Draft, Tunsil was projected as a top-3 pick and was even in the conversation to go No. 1 overall. However, just before the draft, a video was leaked of Tunsil smoking marijuana through a gas mask. He immediately began to slide down boards, landing at No. 13 with the Miami Dolphins.

Perhaps, Sweat will only see a slight effect on his draft stock like Tunsil. Or perhaps, as Miller suggests, the combination of the arrest and the weight issues could cause a significant drop into Day 3.

That said, one thing that is clear, is that Sweat's talent is undeniable. He proved that last season by winning both the Outland Trophy and Big 12 Player of the Year awards.

And if an NFL team does take a chance on him on Day 2, they could be rewarded in a big way.