One Michigan Wolverines star rising up NFL Draft boards following NFL Combine is definitely no longer a sleeper
The Michigan defense is sending plenty of talents to the 2025 NFL Draft this year. Will Johnson at cornerback. Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, both at defensive tackle. All three of them could be first round draft picks. But there's more to Michigan's defensive draft class than just them.Josaiah Stewart, the speedy edge rusher who […]
The Michigan defense is sending plenty of talents to the 2025 NFL Draft this year. Will Johnson at cornerback. Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, both at defensive tackle. All three of them could be first round draft picks. But there's more to Michigan's defensive draft class than just them.
Josaiah Stewart, the speedy edge rusher who posted better pass rush win and pressure rates than most any other defender in the class last season is finally bouncing back, rising up NFL Draft boards following the NFL Combine.
It seems strange the Stewart's draft stock would bounce back following an NFL Combine where he did not participate in the on-field testing, but here we are. Stewart's draft stock has seemingly leaped up and fallen down a couple times this spring already too. It initially spiked the week following his declaration. Then again immediately following the Senior Bowl where he impressed on and off the field.
Those I spoke to in Indianapolis were just as impressed with his off-field countenance and intelligence as they were his dominance as a pass rusher last fall. Many in the media are likely expecting greater things from him now that they've gotten an up close and personal look.
When I spoke to Stewart at the Combine he broke down a couple of the solid meetings he had with some NFL teams and then talked about how he uses his speed to convert to power, off-setting any size-related issues (as you can see in the post below).
Stewart, despite measuring in at 6'1", 249 pounds at the NFL Combine, quite undersized for a typical edge rusher, constantly wins with his speed off the edge. And if you watch the highlight post below from NFL Draft Files you'll see how forceful that speed can be once he gets to his second and third step.
Many scouts might have questions on his size, but it's easy to see how consistently and disruptively Stewart converts speed to power. Setting the edge, flying past and through offensive tackles, Stewart wins quite often along the defensive front.
Stewart mentioned at the NFL Combine that teams had asked him about how his game might translate, and he listed some of the players he tries to model his game after.
It was funny when he first mentioned Myles Garrett, given their significant size differences, but his mentions of Von Miller, Haason Reddick, and Nik Bonitto all track with what he could bring stylistically.
It's hard to pinpoint just one thing that might be leading to Stewart's bounce back into firm mid round three NFL Draft projections from many around the industry, but it's likely that most are just finally catching up to the fact that he plays much bigger than his size suggests.
Hopefully this newfound momentum carries up through the 2025 NFL Draft and Stewart earns a shot at early snaps as a rookie. Given his four years of proven production and development he's more than ready.
Michigan CB Will Johnson makes confident statement despite his NFL Draft stock inexplicably falling after the NFL Combine
Will Johnson remains confident despite NFL Draft stock drop
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If you want to see some of the plays that likely make Josaiah Stewart a steal on day two of the 2025 NFL Draft just check out his 2024 highlights below.
