The Shemar Stewart situation has gotten very chaotic as the first-round pick in 2025 — who impressed everyone at the NFL Combine — for the Cincinnati Bengals continues to hold out.

It’s gotten to the point where we’re just weeks away from training camp, Stewart is arguing that he wants the language in his contract to look like those of usual Bengals first-rounders … and suddenly, everyone’s now wondering: would it be possible for the defensive end to… return to Texas A&M?

What the what? Why would he want that in the first place, you ask? Well, given NIL, he might be able to make as much (and maybe more?) money if he’s back in college. But how can someone taken in the NFL Draft go back to his college?

This is where it gets a little tricky. It’s all hypothetical. Here’s what he could do.

Could Shemar Stewart find a loophole to go back to Texas A&M?

Maybe it comes in the form of a lawsuit. He could sue the NCAA to break the rules about a player going back to college once they’re drafted, so that’s on the table.

From CBS Sports:

During Monday’s episode of the Cover 3 podcast, CBS Sports college analyst Bud Elliott noted that Stewart has actually been working out at Texas A&M this summer. 

“A guy who has had some good A&M stuff in the past, he hit me, he’s like, ‘Hey, Shemar might end up back here,'” Elliott said. …

“‘He’s been at College Station, he’s been fully involved in workouts, He’s holding out from the Bengals, (the) relationship is toxic. He could try to come back and play again this season and go into the draft again next year.'” 

Could Shemar Stewart play in the CFL?

Possibly, but as that article above notes, the Bengals would have his NFL rights for three years.

Could Shemar Stewart go back into the NFL Draft?

Yes. He’d just not have to play football for a year.

So, yeah this is getting pretty dramatic, I’d say. Stay tuned.