A strange Bengals rumor has put Shemar Stewart’s name into the trade conversation, but the idea runs into the same wall immediately: Cincinnati has very little reason to cash out this early unless the offer is strong enough to change the front office’s mind.
Stewart’s case starts with the obvious issue. The Bengals took him at No. 17 in 2025, betting on upside instead of college production, and the early return has been thin. The contract situation has been messy, injuries have slowed him down, and there’s also the note that he has apparently been influenced by Trey Hendrickson.
The depth chart doesn’t help his case either. Stewart has played just 17 snaps this year, and he is sitting behind Cedric Johnson. Even more telling, his college teammate Cashius Howell, who came in as a second-round pick this year, has already been more productive.
That’s why the argument for moving him exists at all. His trade value may never be higher than it is right now, even if that value is still modest for a former first-rounder. If another team is willing to pay up, Cincinnati could use that kind of return to help shore up a thinner spot on the roster.
But the reasons to keep him far outweigh the reasons to deal him. Stewart still has major upside, and the Bengals have already paid most of the first-round contract through bonuses and related compensation. On top of that, there’s real value in keeping edge depth, especially for a player who can line up in various sports across different formations.
And the market isn’t likely to be generous anyway. Stewart’s first-round label only goes so far when he hasn’t stayed healthy and can’t crack the fourth spot on the defensive end depth chart. He also hasn’t broken into the third rotational spot as a pass-rusher inside in certain formations.
So the call is pretty simple: no go. The Bengals need Stewart to stay healthy and earn trust, and right now he’s not taking meaningful reps from the players ahead of him.
There’s some long-term concern too, since Cincinnati will need defensive end depth in 2027 with Myles Murphy slated for free agency, but Stewart still hasn’t shown enough to make that future feel secure. As for any trade return now, it doesn’t look like it would move the needle on this season.
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Round-trip flights from Cincinnati to Madrid are available for under $1,000, which is the kind of detail that can move a trip from daydream to actual planning. The matchup will be played at Bernabu Stadium, with a 3:30 p.m. local kickoff, so anyone making the journey will get a true football weekend in one of Europes biggest sports cities. [Read more 🡒]