Shemar Stewart

Career StatsD+

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		8	1.0	11	1
2025		8	1.0	11	1

Updated Jun 6, 2026

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Among DE contracts at this AAV tier, Shemar Stewart earns a D+ Contract Value Index. A 17th-overall pick in 2025 still operating on his rookie scale deal worth $4.7M AAV over four years, Stewart logged 11 tackles and 1 sack across 8 games in the 2025 season—production that falls well short of first-round expectations and leaves his value proposition underwater relative to the investment. For an edge rusher at his stage, the salary floor is reasonable, but there's no margin for error; Stewart must establish himself as a consistent pass-rush threat in Year 2 just to justify what was already a premium selection cost. The CVI reflects both the contract's standard rookie scale mechanics and the harsh reality that 12 months into his career, he's operating as a rotational depth piece rather than the impact defender Cincinnati likely envisioned when trading up. Cincinnati's recent defensive line overhaul—including the drafting of another edge rusher and the acquisition of established veteran presence—signals organizational impatience and has effectively demoted Stewart in the pecking order at his own position, making the four-year commitment feel increasingly risky. His demonstrated professionalism and willingness to make long-term lifestyle adjustments are genuine positives, but until those intangibles translate into meaningful production in 2026, this remains a rookie deal that hasn't yet paid dividends.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the D band — a quick read on where Shemar's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Shemar Stewart's tape and counting stats together earn a D+ performance grade. The 22-year-old edge rusher, now in his second NFL season, remains a rotational depth piece whose 2025 campaign produced minimal impact: 11 tackles and 1 sack across 8 games represents below-average production for a first-round pass rusher expected to be an immediate contributor. His one sack was the statistical bright spot in an otherwise forgettable debut, but it hardly moves the needle given the tackle total — Stewart was on the field sparingly and when available, failed to generate consistent pressure or distinction. The limited durability (eight games played) compounds the production concern; a healthy rookie edge rusher should log closer to a full season's worth of snaps, and the restricted workload suggests either scheme misfit, performance-based benching, or both. Stewart enters 2026 as a developmental player operating under organizational skepticism — the Bengals' aggressive pursuit of edge depth through multiple signings signals they view his trajectory as uncertain at best. At 22, he theoretically has runway to improve, but the gap between first-round pedigree and current on-field output is wide enough that the burden of proof is entirely on him to prove the 2025 tape was correctable rather than predictive.

How Shemar Compares at the Position

Shemar Stewart ranks 104th of 147 graded defensive ends by performance. That slots Shemar between Cameron Sample (D+) just ahead and Cam Sample (D+) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Recent headlines push Shemar Stewart's sentiment grade to a C, with Cincinnati's broader season shaping the read. The narrative around the 22-year-old edge rusher has hardened considerably since his rookie campaign, where he logged 11 tackles and 1 sack across 8 games in 2025—a debut that media outlets have framed as flat-out disappointing for a 17th-overall pick rather than as a typical slow burn for a developmental defender. What's amplifying the criticism isn't just the modest on-field production; it's the Bengals' organizational response, which has spoken far louder than any patience-focused narrative could. Cincinnati's aggressive defensive line overhaul—including the draft selection of edge rusher Cashius Howell, a trade for Dexter Lawrence II, and free agent signings of Kyle Dugger and Ja'Sir Taylor—has effectively sidelined Stewart from the team's primary conversation and positioned him as organizational afterthought at his own position. The silver lining, which media has acknowledged but not yet elevated into a meaningful story, centers on Stewart's professionalism: his willingness to embrace lifestyle adjustments for career longevity and his mature handling of jersey dynamics with veterans signal the intangibles that could rebuild his standing, but until those translate into production in 2026, the disaster label remains the dominant frame.