Round 1 (17): Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M

[ArmyBengal]

I have seen and done a few mocks recently that had Shemar Stewart falling.  I never really considered him as he was always going in the top 10.  I looked into it and am completely baffled.  Here's a guy that's 6'5, 267lbs and has a perfect 10 RAS score.  On the other hand, he's never had more than 1.5 sacks in a year and a total of 4.5 in his three college seasons.  Only 65 combined tackles in all three seasons as well?  It's about as underwhelming as one can get from a production standpoint.

He also led his team in tackles for loss had 42 QB pressures and had the best "seconds to pressure" in all of college football last season at 2.43 seconds.  Is the potential enough to consider him?  I've long heard that coaches really want to see the production at the college level.

Really strange prospect...

[ArmyBengal]

Like I said above, really strange.

Probably hating it less than everyone here, while not loving it.

Lets see what they do in the 2nd…

[ArmyBengal]

And there goes my linebacker to the Eagles. Geeeesh…

[AMPHAR]

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While Stewart's career sack production (4.5 total with exactly 1.5 in each season) doesn't tell the complete story, his impact runs deeper than the stat sheet suggests. His presence was felt in 2024 particularly, where he racked up 39 total pressures over 315 pass-rushing snaps according to PFF, showcasing the disruptive potential that has NFL scouts drooling after his historic combine performance in Indianapolis

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College Station where he made an immediate impact, appearing in all 12 games with six starts as a true freshman. His development continued through his sophomore campaign, highlighted by a pick-six against Mississippi State, before earning All-SEC Third Team honors as a junior when he led the Aggies with seven QB hurries and accumulated 5.5 tackles for loss. The 6'5", 267-pound defender proved remarkably durable throughout his collegiate career, appearing in 37 games across three seasons.

The narrative might be wrong on this 1.   He played in the SEC as a Freshman.  Has a bunch of career starts.  Productive in a lot of other stat categories except "sacks".    Would have loved it in the 2nd round, probably wouldn't have lasted though.

He's got a log jam of DEs playing for $$$ on this team.  So we'll see if he can push someone out of a job.

[Wraith]

Stewart is a gamble on greatness....the kid just turned 21, it is likely that if he came back to college he could have been a top 5 pick in next year's draft.  He fits on the other side of Trey, this allows Kyle's to backup Trey.  

 

I also believe this is Trey's last season as a Bengal.....

[HoosierCat]

7 hours ago, ArmyBengal said:

 

I have seen and done a few mocks recently that had Shemar Stewart falling.  I never really considered him as he was always going in the top 10.  I looked into it and am completely baffled.  Here's a guy that's 6'5, 267lbs and has a perfect 10 RAS score.  On the other hand, he's never had more than 1.5 sacks in a year and a total of 4.5 in his three college seasons.  Only 65 combined tackles in all three seasons as well?  It's about as underwhelming as one can get from a production standpoint.

He also led his team in tackles for loss had 42 QB pressures and had the best "seconds to pressure" in all of college football last season at 2.43 seconds.  Is the potential enough to consider him?  I've long heard that coaches really want to see the production at the college level.

Really strange prospect...

Well, does have an atrocious 25% missed tackle rate, so at least he will fit in with our defense there…

[AMPHAR]

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Overall, I think I’m going to be a lot higher on Shemar Stewart than other people. You don’t see freak athletes like Stewart enter the NFL very often, and being one of the best athletes in the sport at the position gives you a wide margin for error. I also think his pass rush plan is better than people give him credit for (and I still think he can expand in that area with hand placement), making him an impactful pass rusher in a lot of areas. He played in a weird defense at A&M, but in the NFL, he’s got the potential to be a star.

As said before the draft there's a bunch of "film gurus" that love him.    To summarize Georgia and A&M ask DEs to line up and react for the benefit of the defense that rob them overall sack numbers.  Plus he needs to finish.

We'll see, I guess. 

[Wraith]

1 hour ago, HoosierCat said:

Well, does have an atrocious 25% missed tackle rate, so at least he will fit in with our defense there…

Golden talked a lot about that in the press conference,  doesn't seem too concerned. 

[COB]

Maybe with his great pressure stats (but can’t finish) he’ll collapse the pocket, flush the QB, and Trey can get even more sacks.

[AMPHAR]

He's drawing a lot of comparison's to recent Georgia Edge players taken high without huge sack numbers.  I've seen Travon Walker mentioned several times.  

Also left the Senior Bowl with buzz as the best prospect there.  A year ago that was Quinyon Mitchell who was big time contributor for the Eagles (Bengals passed to take Mims). 

Have no idea.   I keep thinking rich man's Margus Hunt that could absolutely reek Havoc on blocking schemes but very little stats and could never stamp himself a starter.  Great rotational piece.    I hope they get way more out of this pick.

 

[COB]

In this confusing, ever-changing world, it is reassuring to have Mike pick Freaky Decathalete every year.  I feel grounded.  I can breathe.  Thanks Mike!

[COB]

I read the same thing about the senior bowl, he made a big impression.  

[COB]

Also - true to our prototype, he’s a high character guy, good person, and it is very encouraging to read that he's like 100% effort all the time.  Driven and has a motor.

[HoosierCat]

1 hour ago, COB said:

Also - true to our prototype, he’s a high character guy, good person, and it is very encouraging to read that he's like 100% effort all the time.  Driven and has a motor.

Oh, he is 100% a stereotypical Bengals pick. Sky-high upside player who dominated (relatively speaking in this case) on the collegiate level because he won the genetic lottery, but will now have to learn to play football in order to succeed in the NFL. They adore guys like this. Remember Stacey "the dancing bear" Andrews? But they rarely seem to work out. All we can do is hope this time is an exception.

[TJJackson]

Hope?

More like praying

[ArmyBengal]

I get the concern for sure, but still don't hate the pick.
If he can't get on the field because Myles Murphy is so dominant, I will be happy.
If both Myles and Shemar suck ass, then there's reason to be pissed.
Right now?  Not really.  He has just as much a chance to suck this year as any other player taken.

At least it wasn't a WR or RB.

[HoosierCat]

So I'm catching up on my reading this morning and there's something a little weird about the pick. Not having to do with Stewart directly, but something about the process seems kind of strange.

Stewart told Trags that he couldn't recall any contact or communications from the Bengals. According to another reporter, he thought he was going to Dallas. Apparently he had spoken with Jerrah and their d-line coach early yesterday and was "stunned" when they passed on him at 12.

Now, the Bengals did meeting with him at the combine, so there was some contact, but everyone meets with everyone there. But they didn't have him in for a visit or do anything beyond that until apparently early this week. That's when Golden said he called Stewart's college coach to pump him for intel on the kid.

That's interesting. Not what you'd expect. They should have been, and I'm confident, were, done with with al their information-gathering, visits and interviews, etc., and had their board set, before last Monday. So what changed?

OK, maybe they were locked in on Shemar from day 1 and completely ignoring him was some strategy to make other teams think they weren't interested, but they have never been afraid of talking to guys they ended up drafting before. Also it's kind of risky. What if Al had called his coach and been told all bad stuff? No, that doesn't really scan to me.

I wonder if the reason they didn't show any real interest in Stewart was simply that they expected he would be gone by 17. Then last weekend or early this week, they got some intel that that might not be the case? Maybe something slipped in conversations with other teams about possible trades? And that led to the last minute check by Golden that there was no hidden red flag that could explain him falling? That makes sense to me.

[HoosierCat]

Interesting write up on Shemar here.

https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2025/3/20/24390518/2025-nfl-draft-shemar-stewart-scouting-report-texas-am-edge-defender-pass-rusher-defensive-end

[COB]

I feel a lot better after reading that.  Makes a ton of sense.

[ArmyBengal]

I commented on his perfect 10 RAS score and just how ridiculous it is, really is eye popping.
#1 out of 1829 defensive ends from 1987-2025 ??  Fucking seriously ??

The manner in which offense and defense is played in college is a pretty valid point as well.
An 88.2 run grade is actually an importance aspect, as the Bengals lost Hubbard known for his run stopping ability.
If part of his primary role was to disrupt the run and option games, adding him to spy Lamar would be welcomed.
 

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Once cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter of Colorado or defensive tackle Mason Graham of Michigan come off of the board, though, I wouldn’t be surprised if Stewart was the highest available player on at least one team’s board on draft day. That’s the type of raw talent he is.

That's quite the take on Stewart and from someone not associated with the Bengals.  Nice !!

[ArmyBengal]

Like I said before.  Nothing to get upset about at THIS time.
If that talent doesn't come to fruition, then complain.

Right now I'm happy we addressed the DE position.

[HoosierCat]

Re the RAS scores, you have to be careful now because they’re starting to get gamed. Guys who know they won’t do well on one of the drills will just not do that drill. Stewart took a lot of flack for skipping the agility drills at the combine, allegedly due to a tweaked hammy from the 40.

That’s not to say he isn’t a freak athlete, he is, but you know how guys look for any edge because there’s lots of money involved.

[ArmyBengal]

I get that as well for sure.

Looking at what was done is still very impressive.  No two ways about that.
I would have liked to see the agility drills though.  I'm one of the weird ones that watch that stuff.

Football season truly never ends.

[AMPHAR]

He's more than just an athlete according to the film guru's.   He's productive just not in the sack category.

Some of that's finishing but a portion of that is the college game, defensive scheme again according to the film nerds.

I'd love film slicing and dicing IF he was a 2nd round pick.  I don't like having to read tea leaves with a first round pick.

However, I have thought they've needed to add youth and DL that can run and chase for a while.  Partly why I didn't care if they let Reader walk.     So can't be as down on the pick as I was with Mims, but it addresses a position I think is the primary need to be upgraded.   Just don't like having to read tea leaves over a first rounder. 

 

[AMPHAR]

Various scout wanna be draw comparisons to Tavon Walker who was selected No. 1 overall by the Jags in 2022 draft.

I vaguely remember it but not a whole lot because we were picking 31 after a AFC Championship.    A NO. 1 overall pick with 9.5 college career sacks.   WTF?     Walker has now got 24 career sacks in 3 seasons.

But the film dudes are saying the same things that held down Walker's stats did so for Stewart.  Scheme, true pass opportunities.

So Golden talked about him needing to finish.  So I think that's clearly a point on the sack numbers.  But there's another break down saying he'll destroy NFL tackles when given the opportunity.