Dylan Fairchild, Georgia: 2025 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Fairchild was a four-star recruit from West Forsyth High School in Cumming, Ga. in the class of 2021

Georgia left guard Dylan Fairchild recently earned Second Team All-SEC honors. His background as a state champion high school wrestler is evident on tape, but physical limitations put a cap on his grade entering the 2025 NFL Draft process.

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Dylan Fairchild, LG Georgia: 2025 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Redshirt junior left guard from Cumming, Ga.

Background: Fairchild was a four-star recruit from West Forsyth High School in Cumming, Ga. in the class of 2021. He was the No. 98 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 170 for Rivals, and No. 108 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 125th in the nation with an 84 grade out of 100. Fairchild played both sides of the ball in high school. He went 47-0 as a heavyweight wrestler during his junior season and won the state championship.

Injuries & Off-Field: N/A

Awards: 2024 Second Team All-SEC

Pros: Experience at right and left guard, Freaks List inclusion, barrel-chested build, gains good width with his initial step, poised and patient in pass pro, adjusts body positioning to protect the quarterback, wide base in pass pro, re-anchors against power rushes, strong core to torque and finish defenders in pass pro, knocked down his fair share of Alabama defenders in pass pro (2024), powerful extensions and initial punches re-route defenders, times punches well to make first contact, quick to reset hands when they’re swatted, swipes and counters long-arms, good awareness to spot stunts and help teammates, finds work when not covered up in pass pro, peaks and keeps head on a swivel, helps his LT by blindsiding and burying 5-techs, captures and turns the 3-tech’s shoulder to open the A-gap, comfortable working to the second level, took defenders for rides in the run game vs. Clemson and Kentucky (2024)

Cons: Lacks top end power, base uprooted and bounced around too much by power, footwork lacks recovery speed, slow footwork leaves him vulnerable to swims, footwork gets hoppy and impacts his ability to redirect, agility struggles to mirror rushers, carries hands low and wide at times, hands snatched or countered frequently, power in his hands is inconsistent, arm length limits access to the defender’s frame, frequently forced to reset hands as defenders gain easy access to his frame, lacks counters once defender gets into his chest, some moments of panic in pass pro where he defaults to bear hugging, misdiagnoses some stunts, lacks the power to dig out Alfred Collins (2024), struggled to create displacement vs. Alabama and Texas (2024), not a mauler in the run game, inconsistent balance in run game, mobility is a limiting factor on pulls, inconsistent angles as a blocker in space, struggles to mirror second level defenders

Overview: Fairchild has experience playing right and left guard. He’s a barrel-chested lineman and former high school wrestling state champion. Fairchild appeared on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List for The Athletic in 2024. According to Feldman, Fairchild bench presses 440 lbs., squats 570 lbs., and power cleans 370 lbs. The redshirt junior gains good width with his initial step in pass protection. He’s a poised and patient player who welcomes pass rushers with his wide base. He re-anchors against bull rushes and uses his strong core and grappling to torque and finish defenders to the ground. His powerful arm extensions and punches re-route defenders. Fairchild times his punches to initiate first contact and quickly resets his hands. He deploys counters to defeat long-arms. The Georgia native’s vision helps him identify stunts and when his teammates need help. He’s always looking for extra work and opportunities to lay bone-crushing hits. Unfortunately, Fairchild lacks elite power and is uprooted too easily by power rushers. Strong defenders drive him backward or horizontally to open gaps. His slow footwork makes it impossible for him to recover when beaten early in the play. The former four-star recruit struggles to redirect suddenly for delayed rushers and lacks the agility to mirror more fluid athletes. He carries his hands low and wide, which creates too many opportunities for defenders to access his chest considering he lacks ideal arm length to begin with. Fairchild channels inconsistent power through his hands that fails to deter rushers from targeting his chest. He lacks a developed set of counters to combat defenders once they access his central frame. Fairchild defaults to hugging when he feels the rep slipping away from him. In the run game, he identifies good aiming points on interior defensive linemen to win the leverage battle and drive them out of the play. However, Fairchild doesn’t have enough power to create consistent displacement against high end defensive tackles and nose tackles. Despite his aggressive mentality, Fairchild isn’t a consistent mauler in the run game. He took several defenders for long rides this season, but that success doesn’t translate to a down-to-down basis. His inconsistent balance limits his effectiveness and ability to sustain blocks. He takes poor angles to second level players and can’t mirror defenders in space.

Overall, Fairchild is a barrel-chested guard who makes use of his background as a state wrestling champion when grappling with defenders on the interior. He’s a high motor player who has flashes of nice finishing power, but his hand usage, arm length, and limited agility put significant limitations on his potential role in the NFL.

Role & Scheme Fit: Left guard in an inside zone scheme

Round Projection: Fifth Round

Size: 6'5", 315 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 10-25-24

Updated: 12-10-24