When NFL teams prepare for the NFL draft, there is a “social contract” between the teams in the league, and each team puts forth their best efforts to select players that will improve their team. In the first round of the 2025 NFL draft, the Cincinnati Bengals raised many questions about their intentions when they selected edge rusher Shemar Stewart with the #17 pick. Coming into the draft, it was well-known that the Bengals needed to add an edge rusher to replace defensive end Trey Hendrickson, currently in a gridlock position with the Bengals front office during ongoing contract “negotiations.” The problem with drafting Stewart is that when the Bengals made their selection, several higher-rated edge rusher prospects were available, and outside of the realm of edge rushers, the top-rated safety Malaki Starks was still available. Upgrading the safety position is vital for the Bengals to improve their defense from being the 18th-ranked unit in the NFL last year. Ultimately, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor denied the idea that selecting Stewart was an attempt to create leverage against Hendrickson, and regardless of the intent, the Bengals need to get the most out of Stewart for the next five seasons. With that in mind, we will look at the strengths and weaknesses that Shemar Stewart brings to the Bengal’s defense.
Shemar Stewart’s Measurables
On the surface, Shemar Stewart has the elite tools to become a dominant edge rusher in the NFL. Stewart’s 6’5″, 267-pound frame and impressive arm length make him appear a proto-type of what an edge rusher should look like for the Bengals. In addition to his elite size, Stewart also ran an impressive 4.59 40-yard dash and 1.58 10-yard split at the combine.
Stewart has an Explosive Take-Off
When watching Stewart’s game film from his time while playing at Texas A&M, his first step on the snap of the ball is impressive. Also, Stewart has an elite amount of bend when working through a gap, whether defeating a block or attacking a gap on a stunt. Stewart often used his speed in the NFL to knife past offensive guards to get to the point of attack and disrupt players. When the play went away from Stewart, he also displayed impressive effort and persistence as he worked to pursue the ball carrier.
Stewart is Powerful and Transitions Effectively
In addition to being explosive on the snap of the ball, Stewart also has the power to destroy blocks against SEC-quality offensive linemen. Stewart also has good instincts after destroying blocks; he transitions well to using his speed to get into position to make a tackle. Those transitions allow Stewart to be an effective run-stopper and engage blockers so that his linebackers can make clean reads and get over the top of their opponent’s blocking schemes.
Stewart’s Production Fails to Impress
The downside of Shemar Stewart’s potential shines through when you analyze his stats while playing for the Aggies in the SEC. Throughout three seasons, Stewart played in 37 games for Texas A&M, and during that time, he only recorded 30 solo tackles, 35 assists, and 4.5 quarterback sacks. Posting 1.5 quarterback sacks a season is not an indicator of greatness in the NFL, and it shows that he cannot replace Hendrickson. Stewart’s problem is that while being excellent at getting to the ball, Stewart is hesitant and misses several of the plays that an elite defensive first-round draft should be able to make. He missed those plays against SEC players; if the Bengals cannot improve Stewart’s playmaking instincts, he will be a liability on the field every snap.
Stewart’s Pass Rush Ability is Underdeveloped
Stewart does not measure up to top-edge prospect expectations as a pass rusher. While he has the athletic ability to rush quarterbacks successfully, he lacks a plan and the focus needed to finish those plays. Stewart does not have recognizable signature moves that many players can rely on when facing NFL-quality offensive linemen. Still, he fails to demonstrate the ability to make his efforts produce quarterback sacks. This failure to finish plays opens the door to question whether or not those playmaking instincts that elite pass rushers have are natural attributes or skills that the Bengals coaching staff can manifest while working to help Stewart develop into a starting caliber edge rusher for Cincinnati.
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