It has only been a year and a half since the Bengals spent the 17th overall pick in the 2025 draft on defensive end Shemar Stewart, but he already may be a change-of-scenery candidate. There are teams “tracking” Stewart as the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaches, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports.
The athletic Stewart was a raw prospect coming out of Texas A&M, where he only recorded 4.5 sacks in 37 games, and his NFL career quickly got off to a rocky start. Stewart and the Bengals engaged in a standoff over default language in his rookie contract, and he didn’t practice with the team until he finally agreed to sign in late July.
Thanks in part to ankle and knee injuries that held him to eight games, Stewart made limited contributions in his first season. Over 280 defensive snaps, he only registered 11 tackles, four quarterback hits and a sack.
After ending 2025 as Pro Football Focus’ last-ranked edge defender among 115 qualifiers, Stewart has barely factored in this year. The 22-year-old missed the Bengals’ opener with a hyperextended left knee, and though he chipped in a sack in his season debut in Week 2, he played just five defensive snaps in a 20-6 win in Houston. Stewart was active for a 30-27 loss to the Steelers in Week 3, yet he didn’t log a single snap.
“There’s going to be moments we get Shemar more involved,” head coach Zac Taylor said at the time (via Dave Clark of the Cincinnati Enquirer). “Yesterday just didn’t work out that way. You know, he’s still nine practices in, really. Started practicing three weeks ago. Happy with him. He’s got a great effort, great attitude.”
Little has changed since then for Stewart, who combined for 12 snaps from Weeks 4 to 5. He has been on the field for just 17 plays, far fewer than fellow edge defenders Boye Mafe, Myles Murphy, Cashius Howell and Cedric Johnson. It is unclear whether Stewart will take on an increased role now that the Bengals are coming off a bye. If the 6-foot-5, 267-pounder remains buried on the depth chart, perhaps he will change hands in the next three weeks.
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