I thought this response from Al Golden about Shemar Stewart was really interesting.

It’s early of course, but Shemar has definitely flashed in camp so far and they are moving him everywhere. pic.twitter.com/UdYKVKbYN1

— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) August 3, 2025

The Cincinnati Bengals haven’t flinched in their opinion of first-round pick Shemar Stewart since the draft, where the team was, at times, accused of taking a major risk on a player with little collegiate production in the “sacks” column. 

But while Stewart always seemed like an amazing traits vs. production prospect, one thing seemed clear: The Bengals liked his skill set for the way it could help to ease the loss of Sam Hubbard after the veteran’s retirement. 

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Now that Stewart is in training camp and looking the part, it’s a notion that keeps popping up. 

The latest comes from Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden, who told Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer that Stewart’s skill set for his size is rare. 

This versatility likely means Stewart can play a big rotational part in the base defense right away. National headlines might end up hitting him if he doesn’t put up huge sack numbers right away, but kicking all over the line as a dynamic three-down presence brings some major value.

We’re a long way from finding out if Stewart can break into the rotation and make an impact. But the early signs are good and the more coaches talk about him, the more the Hubbard-styled plan seems to settle into place.

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