The debate around the Cincinnati Bengals selecting Shemar Stewart in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft continues to get interesting entries roughly a week out from the event.
One of the most immediate reactions that is worth a look went a little under the radar during the chaos of the draft itself.
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Dallas Cowboys superstar Micah Parsons — who knows a thing or two about rushing the passer — made it clear that he thinks Stewart should have a long career in the NFL.
“He may not finish,” Parsons said, “but I will say his get off, everything up to that point is 110 miles per hour…I don’t really look at the sack numbers, but the size, he’s an every-down defensive end.”
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As we wrote at the time of the pick, Stewart being able to come in and set the edge against the run like he did in college — and like Sam Hubbard did before him — is a nice thing to get. Everything else Parsons speaks to are traits the Bengals really want to develop. Stewart didn’t pile up sacks in college, but he did lead his team in pressures last year.
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Again, Stewart is very much a traits vs. production debate, a theme across the roster on defense for the Bengals right now. They’re banking on new coordinator Al Golden being able to unlock the massive ceilings on the younger players in 2025 and beyond.
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This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Cowboys star Micah Parsons loved Bengals’ Shemar Stewart pick