The bye week is over, and the Cincinnati Bengals are scheduled for a trip to Baltimore where they will play their second AFC North game of the season. Both the Bengals and Ravens are in position to make a push for the division lead in the coming weeks, and everyone in the same building is currently focusing all of their attention on how they can escape Week 7 with a win.
Least of all in Cincinnati and Baltimore.
According to a report, several teams are eyeing a former first-round pick on the Bengals roster as a possible trade target before the Nov. 10 deadline.
“One surprise name that several teams are tracking is Cincinnati edge rusher Shemar Stewart,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said Thursday. “The 2025 first-round pick is not a factor in the team’s rotation right now. He has played 17 defensive snaps, less than the total for the fourth defensive end, Cedric Johnson (83). And rookie second-rounder Cashius Howell has been impressive. Cincinnati usually does not move its young draft picks, but it would be surprising if new draft picks are received in Stetwar. remains high.”
Stewart suffered a hyperextended left knee at the very beginning of training camp, forcing the Bengals’ defense to continue to start the season without him. Now the Bengals are leaving the first quarter of the season tied for the fourth most sacks so far this season (17). Not only did they sign Boye Mafe, but they completely overhauled the defensive front with the additions of Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, and Howell in the draft. They did it without Stewart’s help, and if a team reached out with interest, it wouldn’t hurt to listen.
Stewart was selected with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2025 draft as a developmental pass rusher, but he hasn’t been developed yet, and the Bengals don’t seem to be developing him. If they think they can make a deep run in the postseason and get something for a guy who isn’t really contributing, then they can have their cake and eat it too.
However, the likelihood of a trade actually happening is small.