Texas Longhorns defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat is a name atop the 2024 NFL Draft for defensive players. His name is sliding down after a DWI arrest on Sunday.
Sweat was booked into the Travis Co. Jail in Austin, Tex., at 2:12 p.m. on Sunday after being charged with driving while intoxicated, a Class B misdemeanor. Sweat was released on a $3,000 bond shortly after 4 p.m., according to NBC affiliate KXAN in Austin.
DWI for T’Vondre Sweat
Sweat weighs just over 360 lbs and stands at an impressive six feet four inches. A man of that stature needs to drink quite a few adult beverages to register for a DWI at 2:12 p.m. on a Sunday.
If you were to look at any BAC chart not many measure up for a man that weighs in over 300 lbs., let alone over 360lbs. The closest comparison would be to look at one for 180 lbs. male and double it.
Most charts estimate three to four drinks for a 180-lb. man as an “excessive” amount for someone planning to drive a car. Factor in his future NFL defensive tackle status, and he would have likely consumed anywhere from eight to twelve beverages pre-arrest.
This is all speculation, pure and simple. There is no report of what he was doing prior to arrest, no release on his BAC percentage, not even an indication if it was even alcohol. Nothing on the actual report. It is just an exercise of speculation that went into the Sweat arrest.
We hope that Sweat, or anyone, wouldn’t want to endanger anyone by getting behind the wheel of a car after having a few drinks. But it happened. So, the next step is to determine how this will affect his draft stock.
Questions for Sweat Pre-Draft
Pro Football Talk of NBC Sports poses a reasonable question heading into the draft: How and why was Sweat allegedly driving drunk at 2:00 p.m. on a Sunday? Any team thinking about drafting Sweat needs to provide a full explanation.
The more critical assessment of Sweat is whether he has learned his lesson or might do it again. Is sweat worth the risk with an early draft pick if this could be a problem moving forward?
How can a team justify bringing to its community someone who might drink excessive alcohol (especially given his body weight) and then drive a car? (PFT, NBC)
Texas DT Draft Stock Sliding
According to CBS Sports, Sweat was named both an All-American and Outland Trophy winner in 2023 as the nation’s top interior offensive or defensive lineman; Sweat is currently ranked as the No. 87 overall prospect in the 2024 class by CBS Sports, offering rare size (6-4, 365) after also earning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Although Sweat is the 87th-ranked projected player, he is one of the top three interior defensive linemen in this year’s draft class. As many teams are seeking interior pressure, Sweat was thought to be a possible starter on any defensive line he would be drafted to.
Teams are looking for the next big star at the interior defensive line, and getting a stud on a rookie contract would help build a defensive roster long-term. According to the Athletic, with Derrick Brown’s extension (Carolina Panthers), 11 interior defensive linemen will make an average of $21M-plus per year. This ties the position with edge rushers (11) for the most $21M-plus players on the defensive side of the ball.
The Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears, and Kansas City Chiefs are considering drafting Sweat. They might hope the news will cause Sweat to fall an extra round or two. They could grab a talented player for cheap and help him in his rehabilitation.
More news regarding the arrest will help illuminate the situation as a whole.
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