One Bengals player hitting his stride earlier than expected would change everything about the 2026 season
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart is coming off a forgetful rookie season. Becoming a quality pass rusher in his second season would do wonders for the defense.
The Cincinnati Bengals are banking on defensive end Shemar Stewart taking a significant leap in his second NFL season.
Stewart, Cincy’s first-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, missed most of his rookie year due to an ankle injury. He now faces a crucial second season in which the Bengals need him on the field and producing.
Going back to the draft, I thought Stewart was a major risk to take that early. A player that unproven as a pass rusher, with uninspiring production despite elite athleticism, screamed like the selection that burns teams more often than it rewards them. I understand why the league valued his traits, size, explosion, all of the things you can potentially mold into a quality player.
Cincinnati has simply struggled to develop these types of prospects before time runs out. Players like him have often found their footing on second contracts away from their original clubs, but rarely return on investment within their first few years of their careers.
I had my criticisms of the pick when it happened, and nothing from his first year changed that. I want to be proven wrong.
Why this year is so important for Shemar Stewart
Stewart needs to be healthier this season, and that alone will change his trajectory. He suffered an ankle injury in Week 2, and then tore his PCL in Week 9 and ended up on Injured Reserve for over a month. He missed valuable on-field development a player of his caliber desperately needed.
Stewart needs reps. He needs to make mistakes, study his tape, and work with defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery on building a pass rushing plan for each snap. He needs to use his hands effectively, and weaponize the rare bend and burst he has at his size.
The opportunity is coming whether he’s ready or not. Moving on from Trey Hendrickson necessitates it. Boye Mafe and Myles Murphy will be the starters, and Cassius Howell is going to play a significant role as a second-round pick. But the top four edge rushers on this roster are all going to see 300-400 snaps each. The majority of those will come against the pass.
Inside alignment adds another dimension
One of the more encouraging developments from OTAs and minicamp has been Stewart sliding inside to defensive tackle in certain packages. On third-and-long situations, Cincinnati figures to line him up at 3-technique, where he can bull rush the guard and convert speed-to-power to create disruption in the interior of the pocket.
Even if those reps don’t translate to sacks, the disruption matters. Stewart collapsing the pocket from the inside can create production for the pass rushers next to him who are already generating quick pressures on their own. That kind of impact distorts the pocket in ways that make everyone else’s job easier.
That kind of production would qualify as a major success for Stewart in 2026. I don’t expect him to become a consistent, every-down contributor until 2027 at the earliest. Getting him on the field consistently this season, and making use of what he can do now, would be a significant step forward.
Stewart hitting his stride changes everything
If Stewart makes a bigger leap than I expect, this Bengals defensive line is going to be a serious problem for opposing offenses. The type of athlete he is, with the potential to rush from multiple alignments, adds a dimension opposing offensive lines will fear.
Think about what Cincinnati already has along the defensive line. Mafe and Murphy on the edge with Jonathan Allen, B.J. Hill, and Dexter Lawrence disrupting the interior is a major improvement over last year’s unit. Howell was named the SEC Defensive Player of the year in 2025 and comes ready with an array of pass rushing moves.
Stewart showing immense improvement would elevate the defense as whole even further than expectation. The Bengals need him to prove his worth as a first-rounder sooner rather than later. Doing so this year would prove me wrong, and that would be fantastic news.