The Jets spent “considerable” time with this DL prospect.
The New York Jets are doing their homework on many of the top prospects in this year’s NFL Draft, and that includes Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart.
Per ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Jets defensive line coach Eric Washington spent Wednesday meeting with Stewart ahead of his school’s pro day on Thursday. USA Today’s Art Stapleton confirmed this report, insisting that the Jets “spent considerable time” with the talented 2025 NFL Draft prospect.
The Jets have been connected to a number of potential top-10 prospects in the 2025 draft, but Stewart stands out as probably the most polarizing of the bunch. He undoubtedly would help fill a need on the Jets’ defensive line, but he comes with more red flags than your typical prospect.
At 6-foot-5, 267 pounds, Stewart is quite literally the most athletic edge rusher prospect to enter the NFL since athletic testing numbers have been reliably tracked. Stewart’s perfect 10.0 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) ranks first among all 1,829 defensive end prospects since 1987.
The issue is that his production never matched his traits.
Shemar Stewart is a boom-or-bust NY Jets draft target
A former five-star recruit, Stewart was the top edge rusher prospect in his class and committed to Texas A&M over a host of other major programs. While he showed flashes of his upside at College Station, Stewart never fully realized his potential with the Aggies.
Stewart managed just 4.5 sacks over three years at Texas A&M, never finishing with more than 1.5 in a single season. His pressure numbers were significantly higher, but his production still didn’t live up to the hype.
The Miami native is an otherworldly athlete who possesses an unprecedented blend of size, athleticism, agility, and raw power. He’s arguably the most physically gifted player in this entire draft class.
Some team will be willing to take a chance on his upside, especially in a class that’s lacking players with elite traits. Stewart is going to be a first-round pick, with many projecting him to be selected as high as the top 10. The Jets are very much in play at pick No. 7 overall.
The Jets aren’t just looking for interior defensive line help in the draft — they should also be looking to add to their defensive end room. Jermaine Johnson is coming off a torn Achilles, while Will McDonald was a significant liability in run defense last year. The Jets need more bodies at the position.
Stewart would give the Jets an extraordinary athlete who the team’s coaching staff would be tasked with transforming into a productive NFL player. It wouldn’t be an easy task, but his All-Pro upside might make it worth the gamble.
The Jets will have opportunities to make safer, high-floor selections, but if the new regime is open to taking a swing on a sensational talent with sky-high upside, Shemar Stewart might just be their guy.