What did T'Vondre Sweat do? Explaining Texas star's legal troubles & other red flags

Texas standout T'Vondre Sweat stamped his name into the Longhorn program that won the Big 12 title and played in the Sugar Bowl, but his reputation has been marred since he left the program.

The defensive tackle was arrested in April with a DWI. It came at an unfortunate time, as Sweat was training and waiting for the NFL Draft to finally come around.

With the event finally here, Sweat's legal troubles have some wondering how the issues will affect the promising Longhorns' draft stock. We'll know those answers by the conclusion of the 2024 NFL Draft on Saturday.

Until then, here's what to know about Sweat's recent history.

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T'Vondre Sweat DWI and other red flags

On April 7, Sweat was arrested and booked in Travis County, Texas, for driving while intoxicated, a Class B misdemeanor. A breathalyzer recorded a breath alcohol content of .105. He was released after posting bond.

For many scouts and analysts, it was less about what got Sweat in trouble and more about the timing of it. The time between the NFL Combine and the NFL Draft is a test, said ESPN analyst Matt Miller.

"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," he said. "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."

Fortunately for the Texas lineman, the arrest hasn't affected his stock too much. His skill set on the field makes up for it.

“I know there’s a legal situation to be sorted out here by Sweat, but I was honestly shocked to see him still on the board when I went on the clock at No. 56. That’s because outside of the aforementioned legal battle, there isn’t some laundry list of reports of him being a consistent problem off of the field at Texas," wrote Cowboys team writer Patrik Walker, though Sweat reportedly was candid with teams at the combine about his "partying" as an underclassman.

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If Sweat drops past day two of the draft, it won't be because of the DWI but because of his weight. At 366 pounds, Sweat will be the heaviest defensive tackle in the league. It's already proven to be a slight issue. At the NFL Combine, he ran a 5.27 second 40-yard dash, the slowest of all non-offensive lineman.

Even if he's not the most mobile player, Sweat is a dominant defensive force, and for teams in need of a DT, that could make up for outside factors.

T'Vondre Sweat NFL Draft projections

While Sweat is often linked to the Cowboys, the Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer predicts the Longhorn will get selected before Dallas can make its second-round move. Iyer tabbed Sweat as the 55th overall pick in the draft, heading to the Dolphins. Here's what he has to say about the lineman:

"The Dolphins shouldn't mind to double up on defensive tackle for DC Anthony Weaver, as Sweat would pair nicely with his college teammate Murphy to disrupt on the same pro line (think Jonathan Allen, DaRon Payne again)."

T'Vondre Sweat stats

Sweat's accolades speak for themselves. The Texas star was an Outland Trophy winner in 2023, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and was a unanimous All-American, the fifth Texas DT to be dubbed so.