NFL Draft Profile: Dylan Horton, EDGE, TCU Horned Frogs
Dylan Horton
TCU Horned Frogs
#98
Pos: EDGE
Ht: 6036
Wt: 257
Hand: 0948
Arm: 3318
Wing: 7848
40: 4.75
DOB: 8/21/2000
Hometown: Frisco, TX
High School: Frisco
Eligibility: 2023
One Liner:
Horton is a developing edge rusher with athletic upside and an intriguing frame who hasn’t showcased the full extent of his abilities because of scheme limitations.
Evaluation:
TCU lines Horton up as a 3-tech, 4-tech, and 5-tech, often giving him snaps in all three roles every game. He’s added roughly 75 lbs. since high school, including roughly 30 lbs. since arriving at TCU. Horton’s impact in 2022 was limited by TCU’s 3-3-5 scheme, which didn't create many opportunities for him to operate as a traditional 4-3 defensive end. The scheme also forced Horton to face double teams as a pass rusher, and he’s not physically dominant enough to beat multiple linemen regularly. His hands are active and engage the lineman early in the rep. Horton displays some explosiveness off the line. He sheds linemen and redirects to the ball against the run. Horton flows down the line of scrimmage to the football, but sometimes he over-pursues and opens cutback lanes. The former safety recruit showcases good change of direction skills for his size. He offers the closing speed to chase down plays to the near sideline but doesn’t have elite speed. Horton’s motor runs hot, and he adopts an aggressive and hungry mentality as a run defender and pass rusher. He has the ankle flexibility to flatten his outside rush to the quarterback but shows stiffness in his hips and upper body when attempting to bend around the edge. As a pass rusher, Horton utilizes spin moves, swim moves, and a rip move to the tackle’s inside shoulder. However, these moves appear segmented at times and lack fluidity. Horton shows some upside shooting the B-gap thanks to his explosiveness. He has the strength to set the edge against the run but does it inconsistently. Horton held his own fine on the edge against Bijan Robinson and Texas (2022) but struggled to avoid giving ground against Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship Game. The Texas native is highly experienced on special teams with snaps on the kick return, punt return, kick coverage, punt coverage, and field goal block units. Horton appeared on Bruce Feldman’s 2022 Freaks List for The Athletic. Per Feldman, the TCU defensive lineman has posted a 38" vertical and 10'0" broad jump in the past. He also reportedly runs a 4.55 40-yard dash, power cleans 400 lbs., and squats 700 lbs. Horton lacks elite arm length but meets NFL thresholds. He doesn’t generate any push against double teams. The fifth-year senior lacks the pop in his hands to stun linemen and doesn’t get his hands up for pass breakups consistently. It’s unlikely Horton’s alignment versatility translates to the NFL. Horton displays limited advanced pass rush moves or sequences and lacks a diverse arsenal of counters once his initial rush dies.
Grade:
5th Round
Quotes:
“Senior Bowl scouts have seen plenty of good tape on TCU EDGE Dylan Horton over the past two years. Horton has rush versatility from 2-pt/3-pt [stances] and a good combo of length & power. High school safety is now 275 lbs. & will blow up the Combine.” -- Reese's Senior Bowl Executive Director Jim Nagy on EDGE Dylan Horton
Background:
Horton was a three-star safety recruit from Frisco High School in Frisco, Texas, in the class of 2018. He was the No. 1,999 recruit according to the 247Sports Composite board and No. 1,951 for On3.com. Horton was an unranked two-star recruit for Rivals and didn’t receive a star ranking or grade from ESPN. He lettered in football and basketball and competed in the long jump and high jump in high school. Horton earned First Team All-District 13-5A honors as a safety during his junior season. He also received All-District 13-5A honors in basketball. Horton originally committed to SMU before switching to New Mexico. He transferred to TCU ahead of the 2020 season. Horton has added roughly 75 lbs. since entering college.
