2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Shemar Stewart

Strengths

• Plus-sized edge at 6'5", 281 lbs with 34-inch arms (according to Senior Bowl measurements). 
• Explosive athlete with a twitchy first step. Springs out of his stance in a blur.
• His raw speed and strength create some devastating power rushes. Can crunch the pocket off pure athleticism.
• Heavy hands in the run game to stack and discard offensive linemen. Doesn't get pushed around at the point of attack.
• Stewart can use his quickness to shoot through gaps and make plays in the backfield. He displays impressive range when left unblocked on the backside and when optioned.
• The flashes of flexibility and ability to dip his shoulder at the top of rushes are so enticing. You don't see those kinds of tools with someone this big.
• He plays incredibly hard, never stopping his pursuit. Teams will love the never-say-die mentality he brings to the table.

Weaknesses

• There aren't any go-to pass rush moves to mention. He primarily relies on his athleticism to reach the QB. He is entering the NFL completely green in that area.
• Behind the eight ball regarding pass rush production. Average advanced pass rush metrics throughout his career. It would be unusual for him to be a more productive player in the NFL than in college.
• Too often tied up with blockers as a pass rusher, resulting in insufficient clean 1v1 victories.
• He needs to finish more plays. His most impressive flashes demonstrate more potential than substance. He gets close to a sack or tackle for loss but can't shed the block to bring the ball carrier down. 
• Struggles to find the football against more diverse run schemes. The instincts are still developing.

Final Thoughts and Chicago Bears Fit for Shemar Stewart

If we asked every NFL defensive line coach to create their ideal 4-3 defensive end, they would look like Shemar Stewart. There aren't many humans on planet Earth who are 6'5" and over 280 pounds who move as well as Stewart. Not to mention, there isn't an ounce of excess weight on him.

Stewart will come in immediately and provide a high floor as a run defender. He utilizes his length and strength to overpower offensive tackles on early downs. He excels at maintaining the edge and could improve further in creating negative plays if his instincts develop more. 

He flashes the ability to shoot through gaps to wreak havoc in the backfield. He just needs to do a better job of consistently finding the ball. Regarding his performance as a pass rusher, the flashes are undeniable. Stewart resembles a top-10 pick on his best speed-to-power rushes. That's the primary way he wants to win: by running right through his opponents.

The problem is that he wasn't very successful on a snap-by-snap basis. Stewart's production and pass-rushing tape leave a lot to be desired. He doesn't beat blocks often enough. Much of this issue stems from a lack of a pass-rush plan. Stewart doesn't attempt any actual repeated moves to deconstruct blocks on his tape.

For all his explosiveness and power, he still left a lot on the table because he couldn't complete that final phase of the rush. He possesses all the physical tools one could ever ask for, but one has to wonder why that hasn't translated into better production throughout three seasons. Why is he still so raw?

If you believe in traits over production, Stewart is your prospect in this class. No one can teach the physical abilities that he possesses. I tend to be a bit more reserved when a player hasn’t shown that consistency in college and suddenly is expected to do it in the NFL. The optimistic fans in us want to believe that players can improve significantly at the next level. However, that happens much less often than we think.

If I gave this same soapbox rant about the importance of production to Dennis Allen, he would probably tell me to take a lap. Defensive coordinators overlook a lot of shortcomings if you are huge and run a 4.6. Stewart checks both boxes. Not to mention, the best version of what Stewart could be is such an ideal fit for DA's defense.  

While the comparisons to Cam Jordan are ambitious, it's easy to see why they exist. They share quite a few physical similarities. For these reasons, I believe Stewart will be a legitimate option for the Bears at 10. Although I wouldn't be thrilled about it, given how much projection Stewart requires, I would ultimately understand the decision. 

Pro comparison: The severed version of Cam Jordan that forgot his pass-rush moves.