SS #94

Shemar Stewart

Defensive End · Texas A&M

Shemar Stewart is a physical marvel out of Texas A&M who was the Bengals' first-round pick in 2025 despite modest college sack production.

Shemar Stewart entered the 2025 NFL Draft as one of the rarest athletic profiles in combine history, and Cincinnati bet a top-20 pick that his tools would eventually translate into pass-rush production. A lengthy rookie contract standoff delayed his debut, and his first season on the field was a learning experience more than a breakout.

★ First-round pick (No. 17 overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft

★ Posted a 10.0 relative athletic score, best in NFL Combine history

★ Third-team All-SEC selection at Texas A&M in 2024

★ Signed a fully guaranteed four-year rookie contract

Path to the league

Stewart played three seasons at Texas A&M, recording just 4.5 career sacks but earning third-team All-SEC honors in 2024 after leading the Aggies with 39 pressures and seven quarterback hurries. The Cincinnati Bengals selected him with the 17th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Career highlights

At 6-foot-5 and 267 pounds, Stewart posted a 4.59-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and recorded a 10.0 relative athletic score, the best in combine history for his position. His rookie contract negotiations ran longer than any other first-rounder in his draft class, and he missed offseason workouts and the start of training camp before signing a fully guaranteed four-year deal.

2025 season recap

Stewart's rookie season got off to a slow start after his holdout, and he appeared in just eight games, registering only 15 pressures on 181 pass-rush attempts and not recording his first sack until Week 17 against the Cardinals. His production fell well short of expectations for a top-20 pick, leaving him as a developmental piece for the Bengals' defensive line heading into 2026.