Cincinnati Bengals select Shemar Stewart in the first round, 17th overall

Shemar Stewart on Thursday completed an amazing ascension up NFL Draft boards when he was selected in the first round, 17th overall, by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Stewart is the first A&M player taken in the first round since guard Kenyon Green was picked by the Houston Texans in the 2022 draft.

Additionally, Stewart is the Aggies’ 10th defensive lineman drafted since A&M joined the Southeastern Conference. He’s also the first A&M defensive end drafted in the first round since the Cleveland Browns made Myles Garrett the No.1 overall selection in 2017.

The 6-foot-5, 267-pound Stewart came to A&M as a five-star prospect in the heralded 2022 recruiting class, which was named the best in the nation.

Though productive, he had a statistically modest collegiate career at Texas A&M. In three seasons, Stewart posted 65 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

He was also credited with 17 quarterback hurries, broke up four passes and forced a fumble.

However, he thoroughly impressed NFL scouts with his speed and explosiveness during pre-draft workouts.

His athleticism, size and gregarious personality made him the center of attention in the NFL Combine in February.

Stewart ran a 4.59 40-yard dash, posted a 40-inch vertical jump and 10-foot, 11-inch standing broad jump.

Stewart’s upside is so attractive that some teams figured to overlook his mundane collegiate production to instead focus on his immense potential.

Obviously, the Bengals were among those teams.