A weird rumor popped up around the Cincinnati Bengals this week alleging that other teams have an eye on Shemar Stewart as a trade candidate. 

Those Bengals seem highly unlikely to give up on a former first-round pick so soon for many reasons. But it’s not totally unreasonable to think other teams see the situation with Stewart in Cincinnati and wonder if they might not be able to make a good offer that gives the front office in Paycor Stadium some pause. 

So, here’s a quick rundown of the pros and cons behind a possible Stewart trade. 

Pros of a Bengals Shemar Stewart trade

To be blunt, Stewart was a middling, if not bad, draft pick. The Bengals left their wheelhouse a bit at No. 17 in 2025 and went straight upside over production with Stewart, whose lack of numbers in college fell under the spotlight quickly. 

Then, the messy contract saga, injuries and apparently being influenced by Trey Hendrickson. 

Stewart’s college teammate, Cashius Howell, arrived via the second round this year and has already been more productive. Stewart has played just 17 snaps this year and is behind Cedric Johnson on the depth chart. 

There’s a small chance that Stewart’s trade value won’t be higher than now. Granted, that high is pretty low, even for a first-rounder, all things considered. The Bengals might be able to bolster depth at a needier area if they move him. 

Cons of a Bengals Shemar Stewart trade

The cons are many compared to the pros. 

Stewart has immense upside that could still be unlocked. They’ve paid the bulk of his first-round contract via bonuses and such already. And there’s no such thing as too much quality depth on the edge, especially if a player can line up in various sports across different formations. 

And again, the trade compensation isn’t going to be good. Stewart is a first-round product. But he hasn’t been able to stay healthy. He can’t crack the fourth spot on the defensive end depth chart. He can’t crack the third rotational spot as a pass-rusher inside in certain formations. 

Shemar Stewart trade verdict

No go. The Bengals need Stewart to stay healthy. And they need to trust him. If they did, he’d be on the field. Right now, he’s losing reps to a rookie and a fourth defensive end. There’s little trade value there. They’re in a lose-lose situation right now, because they need defensive end depth in 2027 with Myles Murphy slated for free agency, but he’s yet to show that he’ll be able to step up by then. The return on a trade right now, though, is unlikely to swing the scales on this season.