The Cincinnati Bengals can’t be discredited as buyers at the NFL trade deadline anymore after the permanent departure from their comfort zone via the Dexter Lawrence trade. 

But it remains to be seen whether the Bengals would sell off actual players via trade at the deadline to strengthen the roster. 

One name who has started to come up? 

Shemar Stewart. 

Over at ESPN, Jeremy Fowler wrote that some teams have circled Stewart as a guy the Bengals might be potentially willing to let go. 

“One surprise name a few teams are tracking is Cincinnati edge rusher Shemar Stewart,” Fowler wrote. “The 2025 first-round pick is not a factor in the team's rotation right now. He has played 17 defensive snaps, well behind the total for the fourth defensive end, Cedric Johnson (83). And rookie second-rounder Cashius Howell has been impressive. Cincinnati typically doesn't move its young draft picks, but it would be surprising if the Bengals haven't received inquiries on Stewart, whose upside remains high.”

Let’s just get this out of the way: This is extremely unlikely. The Bengals aren’t going to give up on a high-end prospect and first-round pick this soon. And boasting good depth on the edge with Boye Mafe, Myles Murphy, Cashius Howell and Cedric Johnson also in that rotation is a good thing. 

No doubt the Bengals need to get Stewart on the field more. But it’s no secret he was a raw prospect and he’s battled injuries, both last year and this past summer, that have stunted things. Odds are it wouldn’t send a good message to Howell, his college teammate, if they gave up on him. 

Now, if the Bengals were pulling off a blockbuster for a star player and the other team wanted Stewart’s upside? Maybe the Bengals entertain it. But this is buzz about front offices sniffing around and seeing that Stewart isn’t getting much playing time, but without the context.