Cincinnati – The legend of Bengals AJ Green was at the Paycer Stadium Thursday evening before the draft of the NFL 2025. The former professional professional was part of the annual part of the draft which took place.
He properly predicted that Bengals would choose a rusher on board. Unfortunately for fans, it was not the one they wanted.
I got into an elevator with several writers and journalists to descend into the media area after Green spoke for about 10 minutes. A fan of Bengals said “hello”, who never ages elsewhere, then he said “anyone except Shemar”.
He referred to the defensive winger Texas A & M Shemar Stewart. Bengals chose it in my predictive simulation project on Wednesday.
Why not Stewart?
Well, it is the big, long and defensive athletic that looks like a player who changes the game, but has not had the production to save him. He had only 1.5 bags for the AGGIES last season and 4.5 in three college seasons.
He did not have the production of a Mike Green or James Pearce.
So why did the Bengals pushed Stewart with the 17th choice in total?
Bengals take a risk. But whoever they made with the 17th choice would have had a defect.
Green has been withdrawn from several draft advice due to his problems outside the field. Pearce ended up going to the first round, but there is maturity and character problems with him.
In addition, the two guys are much smaller than Stewart, who could comfortably play 280 pounds.
In reality, Stewart checks each box except one: production.
It is a large, fast, strong, long and hard defensive that can get started and play a lot of different roles on the defensive line of Bengals.
He had 39 pressures last season and disturbed, even if it did not lead to bags.
“Sometimes you bet on the features,” The Director of Bengals for Players, Duke Tobin, said this week. “This is what this league is talking about. There are many examples of guys who have not had excellent collegial production but great sporting features of the NFL and who come in our league and who have really shone. The coaching is one of them. Development is one of them. Sometimes, diagram the diagrams.
Stewart had 1.5 bags last season. If this number was 4.5 or 5.5, it would probably not have done it in the top 10.
Bengals know that it must be a better finisher. And they are ready to help him get there.
“It’s a hell of a choice for us. We are delighted with him”, ” Said Golden. “We are delighted with his athletics, his tenacity, his style of play, all these things, so in terms of – there is a lot of production. This is the only thing we focus on when he happens here in terms of calculating this and improving this and giving him an improvement plan in terms of this, so we will succeed.”
Bengals are betting on their coache staff to maximize Stewart and make the most of him.
Why do you think they fired Lou Anarumo in January and hired Al Golden? Why did they use a new defensive staff, including the defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery?
It is for this moment.
They added an ultra -talented physical monster of a defensive end that must be developed. At 6-5, 267 pounds, Stewart could start realistically as a recruit.
This is not a project that will take three years. Bengals have reorganized their coach staff and have taken a monster like Stewart because they think they can help them win now.
Golden has spent the last three seasons in Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish beat the AGGIES August 23-13 last.
“No, I just heard guys moaning on him when we had to play it,” said Golden. “It was the guy who was worried and now I know why, the front studied.”
Have Bengals have understood well?
Only time will tell us.
Stewart must maximize his talent. He will have to work hard on his technique, his ability to access the smuggler and finish when he gets there.
If these coach staff can help him do so, there is no reason why he cannot be a successful pro.
Stewart has a huge advantage. Pro Bowl potential. Maybe even an all-pro potential.
Bengals could have taken a risk with a smaller guy who had questions outside the field. They could have gone with a player who fell into the draft due to medical problems.
They transmitted these guys for someone who can have as much on the rise as anyone in the project.
“I am really excited by the young man because, again, you really compromise anything with this choice,” said Golden. “You do not compromise the character, you do not compromise work ethics, you do not compromise the style of play, you do not compromise the size, the weight, the speed.
He has no character problems. He has no questions of work ethics and he has each physical gift necessary to be a star in the NFL.
Bengals roll the dice on Stewart. There is no doubt that it is a risk. But it is a risk to take and it is easy to see why they chose it on Thursday evening.
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