Lance Zierlein’s first mock draft of the 2025 cycle at NFL.com sent a Senior Bowl standout and potential-filled prospect at edge rusher to the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2025 draft.
Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart — a massive defensive end with huge upside — went to the Packers at No. 23 overall.
From Zierlein: “Stewart is a wild card in this draft because his size and athleticism are truly elite, but the production is disappointing (4.5 sacks in three seasons). Still, the ceiling is very high and he would be hard to pass up for the Packers.”
Teams like the Packers will have to weigh production against potential with Stewart, who had 39 total pressures in 2024 but finished his Texas A&M career with only 4.5 total sacks and 12 tackles for loss. He has all the tools, but can he finish as a disruptor?
Texas A&M edge Shemar Stewart (#4) might be the most interesting prospect who has a real shot to go in the first round.
Just 4.5 sacks in 3 seasons. A lot of “almost” plays like the one below.
6-foot-6, 285 pounds and some rare physical traits. Powerful and explosive, but it… pic.twitter.com/VMdclDtUsB
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 20, 2025
At the Senior Bowl, Stewart measured 6-5 and over 280 pounds, with an incredible 83″ wingspan. And the 21-year-old displayed rare burst for a player of his size while competing against other top prospects in Mobile.
One personnel evaluator told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN that Stewart “stamped himself as the best player” at the Senior Bowl, while PFF picked Stewart as the standout edge rusher in Mobile.
It’s possible the lack of elite production could push a player like Stewart into the 20s and into range for a team like the Packers, who could use pass-rushing help entering the 2025 draft.
Like Lukas Van Ness in 2023, Stewart appears to be gaining steam as a potential Packers first-round pick at this point in the pre-draft process. He can cement himself as an obvious option at No. 23 overall if he aces the combine portion of the evaluation in Indianapolis later this month.
