Approaching the 2025 NFL Draft, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on anywhere from Rounds 1 through 7. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital and their fit with the Steelers.

If Shemar Stewart falls to No. 21 on draft day, should the Pittsburgh Steelers be interested?

Position: EDGE

Class: Junior

Size: 6’5, 267

Age: 21

Projected draft round: 1

Stats via Sports Reference (link to page)

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Shemar Stewart is one of the top pass-rushing prospects in this year’s draft class, but his sack production isn’t just worrying. It’s simply bad.

Iowa’s Yahya Black, a Day 3, 336-pound nose tackle who I profiled as having a “lack of a pass-rush skill set and low athletic ceiling” still had a 3.5-sack season in 2023. Stewart has logged just 1.5 in each of his three years in college. That’s the enigma that’s seen his draft stock everywhere from a top-10 pick to Day 2 despite fantastic measurables (10.0 RAS!) and intriguing tape.

But the bet the team that drafts Stewart will be making isn’t all that complicated: Either he’s able to put all of his elite traits together and become a high-end NFL pass-rusher, or he won’t; Stewart has everything it takes to be great — it just hasn’t clicked yet.

His performance at Texas A&M reveals exactly that.

Sometimes, he simply can’t finish plays. In true Wile E. Coyote fashion, everything will be set up perfectly just for Stewart to slip or the ball-carrier to make a last-second escape. But disruption is still a valuable end result on defense, even if sacks are preferred, and Stewart was still able to repeatedly force bad throws or reroute runs (No. 4 in all clips).

Both his speed and power are uncanny for someone his size. There are instances across his 2024 where he just went right through offensive linemen:

And while his first step isn’t always consistently fast, he can flip a switch with quickness, flying into the backfield in an instant.

Stewart weighed in at the NFL Combine at 267 pounds, but his playing weight was clearly heavier (listed at 290 in college). Texas A&M had him everywhere from stand-up outside linebacker to 4i — with some rare reps even further inside, as well. That versatility shouldn’t go unnoticed, but Stewart is likely to fit best as an EDGE defender in the NFL, and his current weight is trending in that direction.

Still, he showed great play strength when on the interior, not giving up much ground in the run game and even moving double teams as a pass-rusher. His run defense was spotty, but he has the anchor to hold his ground and the athleticism to navigate traffic at the line of scrimmage.

So why just 1.5 sacks in 2024? A few issues are blatantly obvious in Stewart’s game: His tackling radius isn’t all that great — sometimes he’ll disrupt at the line but the ball-carrier will get by unscathed. Finishing plays will be something he’ll need to correct at the next level: mainly form, awareness, and balance.

More worryingly, his pass-rush plan needs a lot of work. Stewart’s hand usage is unrefined and he constantly let offensive linemen get to his frame and steer him. His inconsistent leverage, often popping straight up after the snap, didn’t help either.

After a deeper dive into Stewart’s 2024, my original first-round grade is still there, but it’s hanging by a thread. Stewart’s projection is almost entirely built on upside. He’s the definition of a boom or bust prospect.

Strengths

Versatility to fit a lot of schemes and positions on the defensive line
NFL-ready build
Good power and play strength; elite bull rush
Upside to be an every-down player against run and pass
Incredible quickness for someone his size

Weaknesses

Undeveloped pass-rushing plan
Lets O-linemen get to his chest as a rusher
Inconsistent leverage
Near-nonexistent sack production
Routinely struggles to finish plays

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com

Stewart is carved from granite, possessing a rare blend of traits, explosiveness and untapped upside. He’s long and sudden off the snap but hasn’t learned to weaponize his hands to control the point of attack and bypass protection with go-to moves. His bull-rush compresses the pocket off the edge, and he’s too athletic for guards when reduced inside. He can be very disruptive in both phases but requires additional training to start converting his opportunities into finishes. The lack of production relative to the traits is a concern; still, players who move like him are highly coveted. While the boom-or-bust label might be in play, it feels like a matter of time before it all starts to click at a high level.

Matt Holder of Bleacher Report

Stewart is pretty good at turning speed to power right now but relies on winning with pure strength and athleticism as a pass-rusher. … Stewart can contribute immediately as a two-down defender and could grow into a complete player. However, as his underwhelming sack production suggests, he will take some time to develop as a pass-rusher. Schematically, teams could differ on the Texas A&M product’s best position as he falls into the fringe EDGE/DL category. Some clubs could want to play him as an even front defensive end, while others see him as more of an interior player. GRADE: 8.0 (Year 1 Starter — Late 1st – Early 2nd) … PRO COMPARISON: John Franklin-Myers.

Kyle Crabbs of The 33rd Team

He’s got a hefty career missed tackle rate, and if he’s going to be able to fulfill his potential, he will need to be more controlled coming through his open-area tackle challenges. Shemar Stewart projects as a developmental impact starter at the NFL level. With his current prowess as a run defender and gap control player, he affords a team an immediate role with a seemingly immeasurable ceiling if he grows as a pass rusher. Because he can defend the run, he should be considered a viable Day 1 starter, particularly as a 5-tech end who plays overtop of tackles and utilizes his length to stack the point of attack.

Stewart’s top-30 visit with the Steelers might be the most confusing of this draft cycle. The team has already met with one D-line tweener who’d best fit in a 4-3 this year in SMU’s Elijah Roberts, but Roberts is a mid-round prospect. If Stewart ends up on the Steelers, it’d have to be at No. 21.

Stewart has slimmed down — he has the quickness to be a great 3-4 outside linebacker — and seems to be planning on a full-time role at EDGE in the NFL. But he does have great play strength and often played at a heavier weight in college; if Pittsburgh wanted him to bulk up and move to 5-tech, I could see the vision.

Still, I expect a guy who ran a 4.59-second 40-yard dash at 267 pounds to be an edge rusher at the next level.

Pittsburgh has a lot of needs this year, but outside linebacker is not one of them. The Steelers have a fantastic top three of T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig under contract for the upcoming year. For now, I think the team is simply checking in on one of the most confusing but high-end athletes in this year’s draft.

TL;DR: Stewart has the physical abilities of a top-five prospect, but his technique and production fall well below that level. He’s an intriguing, versatile defender that a team will have to solve at the next level.

What are your thoughts on Texas A&M EDGE Shemar Stewart? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!