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The Cincinnati Bengals haven't been popular in NFL draft grades in the wake of taking Texas A&M pass-rusher Shemar Stewart in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.
It's not hard to see why, either. Stewart comes with some shockingly good numbers, which hint at huge upside. He also plays a position of need for the Bengals, where Trey Hendrickson's contract drama and disappointing production from other players linger.
But Stewart is also a possible project and his 4.5 sacks over three seasons stick out on the sheet.
Here's a grades roundup for the Stewart pick.
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz at USA Today goes with a "B" grade and points out usage issues for Stewart in college:
"As the Trey Hendrickson drama lingers, Cincinnati affords itself some flexibility on the edge for both the short and long term. Regardless of whether the Bengals move the NFL's reigning sack king, the defense needed to create more pressure. Stewart can certainly do that, and the 6-5, 267-pounder certainly fits the bill of what the organization looks for at defensive end with his imposing build and athleticism. But can he actually develop a finishing touch? Usage issues were partially responsible for Stewart's shortage of production, but he also has to figure out a way to play with more control when he gets a quarterback or ball carrier in his sights."
RELATED: Instant analysis of Bengals picking Shemar Stewart in the first round
Chad Reuter at NFL.com also went with a "B" grade:
"Stewart had 4.5 sacks in three seasons at Texas A&M, so it will be interesting to see if he can improve his rush moves and change-of-direction ability to track down quarterbacks more regularly in the NFL. His get-off and straight-line speed are excellent, though, and he's very strong against the run. This pick addressed the team’s biggest area of need, given the uncertainty about Trey Hendrickson's future with the Bengals."
Pete Prisco at CBS Sports went more negative with a "C" while dishing some issues:
"The Bengals needed edge help, but Stewart is raw and lacks football instincts. There wasn't a lot of production to his game. The tape shows a player who needs to learn how to play football. But the talent is there."
Danny Kelly at The Ringer also went with a "C" grade because he wanted the Bengals to grab a more proven prospect:
"The Bengals swing for the fences with this pick, grabbing one of the most athletic edge rush players ever. Stewart is big, long, and brings first-step burst, but the production never matched the traits, with just 1.5 sacks in each of the last three seasons. For a Bengals team that is particularly thin on defense, I would’ve preferred that they looked at a more developed early contributor. Stewart brings immense upside, but Bengals fans might have to wait for it."
Pro Football Network gave the Bengals a "C+" while rightfully pointing out that the Bengals haven't developed talent properly in the past:
"In run defense, Stewart can be undisciplined and over-eager. In the pass-rush phase, he can be uncontrolled and unrefined. The Bengals haven’t proven they can deliver on these kinds of high-upside gambles at EDGE; the Myles Murphy pick from two years ago hasn’t panned out. But Stewart has the talent, and he has the motor, and every evaluation is different. Perhaps if they can keep Trey Hendrickson in-house, Stewart can learn from him and unlock his potential."
Bleacher Report goes with yet another "C" grade, suggesting the team should have looked at the offensive line instead:
"The Bengals should have considered finishing their offensive line to build upon a strength instead of trying to use duct tape to repair a gaping hole in their defense. They just added an NBA-like prospect who needs to be a better pro than collegiate player."
Gilberto Manzano and Matt Verderame at Sports Illustrated went with the rare-feeling "C-" grade:
"The Bengals added some much-needed help for their defense. The massive 6' 5", 267-pound Stewart excelled at creating pressure from multiple positions in the Aggies’ crowded defensive front. There’s plenty of untapped potential with Stewart, but his lack of sacks in college might be concerning for teams. He was held to 1.5 sacks in each of his three seasons."
Rob Rang at Fox Sports went with a C+ and pointed out Duke Tobin's history:
"As the Bengals' de facto general manager since 1999, Duke Tobin has made a career out of gambling on prospects with exceptional upsides. Few offer more of that in this class than the 6-foot-5, 267-pound Stewart, who could be either the complement or replacement the Bengals need with star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson a candidate to be traded. His athleticism wowed at the Combine, but his troubling lack of production at Texas A&M makes this another boom or bust pick."
RELATED: Bengals pick Shemar Stewart's shocking numbers puts him with top names
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals receive extremely mixed grades for Shemar Stewart pick
Continue reading...
It's not hard to see why, either. Stewart comes with some shockingly good numbers, which hint at huge upside. He also plays a position of need for the Bengals, where Trey Hendrickson's contract drama and disappointing production from other players linger.
But Stewart is also a possible project and his 4.5 sacks over three seasons stick out on the sheet.
Here's a grades roundup for the Stewart pick.
USA Today
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz at USA Today goes with a "B" grade and points out usage issues for Stewart in college:
"As the Trey Hendrickson drama lingers, Cincinnati affords itself some flexibility on the edge for both the short and long term. Regardless of whether the Bengals move the NFL's reigning sack king, the defense needed to create more pressure. Stewart can certainly do that, and the 6-5, 267-pounder certainly fits the bill of what the organization looks for at defensive end with his imposing build and athleticism. But can he actually develop a finishing touch? Usage issues were partially responsible for Stewart's shortage of production, but he also has to figure out a way to play with more control when he gets a quarterback or ball carrier in his sights."
RELATED: Instant analysis of Bengals picking Shemar Stewart in the first round
NFL.com
Chad Reuter at NFL.com also went with a "B" grade:
"Stewart had 4.5 sacks in three seasons at Texas A&M, so it will be interesting to see if he can improve his rush moves and change-of-direction ability to track down quarterbacks more regularly in the NFL. His get-off and straight-line speed are excellent, though, and he's very strong against the run. This pick addressed the team’s biggest area of need, given the uncertainty about Trey Hendrickson's future with the Bengals."
CBS Sports
Pete Prisco at CBS Sports went more negative with a "C" while dishing some issues:
"The Bengals needed edge help, but Stewart is raw and lacks football instincts. There wasn't a lot of production to his game. The tape shows a player who needs to learn how to play football. But the talent is there."
The Ringer
Danny Kelly at The Ringer also went with a "C" grade because he wanted the Bengals to grab a more proven prospect:
"The Bengals swing for the fences with this pick, grabbing one of the most athletic edge rush players ever. Stewart is big, long, and brings first-step burst, but the production never matched the traits, with just 1.5 sacks in each of the last three seasons. For a Bengals team that is particularly thin on defense, I would’ve preferred that they looked at a more developed early contributor. Stewart brings immense upside, but Bengals fans might have to wait for it."
Pro Football Network
Pro Football Network gave the Bengals a "C+" while rightfully pointing out that the Bengals haven't developed talent properly in the past:
"In run defense, Stewart can be undisciplined and over-eager. In the pass-rush phase, he can be uncontrolled and unrefined. The Bengals haven’t proven they can deliver on these kinds of high-upside gambles at EDGE; the Myles Murphy pick from two years ago hasn’t panned out. But Stewart has the talent, and he has the motor, and every evaluation is different. Perhaps if they can keep Trey Hendrickson in-house, Stewart can learn from him and unlock his potential."
Bleacher Report
Bleacher Report goes with yet another "C" grade, suggesting the team should have looked at the offensive line instead:
"The Bengals should have considered finishing their offensive line to build upon a strength instead of trying to use duct tape to repair a gaping hole in their defense. They just added an NBA-like prospect who needs to be a better pro than collegiate player."
Sports Illustrated
Gilberto Manzano and Matt Verderame at Sports Illustrated went with the rare-feeling "C-" grade:
"The Bengals added some much-needed help for their defense. The massive 6' 5", 267-pound Stewart excelled at creating pressure from multiple positions in the Aggies’ crowded defensive front. There’s plenty of untapped potential with Stewart, but his lack of sacks in college might be concerning for teams. He was held to 1.5 sacks in each of his three seasons."
Fox Sports
Rob Rang at Fox Sports went with a C+ and pointed out Duke Tobin's history:
"As the Bengals' de facto general manager since 1999, Duke Tobin has made a career out of gambling on prospects with exceptional upsides. Few offer more of that in this class than the 6-foot-5, 267-pound Stewart, who could be either the complement or replacement the Bengals need with star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson a candidate to be traded. His athleticism wowed at the Combine, but his troubling lack of production at Texas A&M makes this another boom or bust pick."
RELATED: Bengals pick Shemar Stewart's shocking numbers puts him with top names
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals receive extremely mixed grades for Shemar Stewart pick
Continue reading...
