NFL Exec Says Shemar Stewart 'Is the Epitome of a High-Risk Pick with Bust Potential'

One NFL executive believes the Cincinnati Bengals went out on a limb when they selected Texas A&M edge-rusher Shemar Stewart with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

"He is the epitome of a high-risk pick with bust potential," the exec said to The Athletic's Mike Sando. "People are going to say Von Miller, but he doesn't make many plays. Runs (fast), and there is no production."

Even with the caveat that no prospect is the finished product coming into the league, Stewart could be a serious work in progress.

In three years with the Aggies, the 6'5", 267-pound defender had just 4.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. By contrast, Penn State's Abdul Carter had 12 sacks and 24 tackles for loss in just his junior season.

Still, Stewart was the No. 17 overall player on Bleacher Report's big board for a reason.

"It is not all sack production," a different executive said to Sando. "It is total pressures, pressure rate and then physically, it's their three-cone, their 10-yard shuttle, broad jump, those things. The dude the Bengals took had very low sack numbers but was back there all the time."

Trey Hendrickson is entering the final year of his contract. Paying him $30 million a year moving forward will be tough for Cincy after it handed massive extensions to quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

In all likelihood, the Bengals are hopeful Stewart is Hendrickson's heir apparent off the edge. Assuming that's true, it signifies a strong believe in the player development side of the coaching staff.