- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 411,582
- Reaction score
- 43
The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2025 NFL draft.
A year ago, the Green Bay Packers selected Edgerrin Cooper with the 45th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. It marked the third Texas A&M Aggie that Brian Gutekunst drafted since taking over as general manager in 2018.
Gutekunst could once again return to the talent pool at College Station during the 2025 NFL Draft by taking Shemar Stewart with the 23rd overall pick. The Texas A&M defensive linemen checks in at No. 20 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A five-star recruit out of Florida, Stewart recorded 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks during his first season on campus. In 2023, Stewart recorded two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. This past season, the former five-star recruit recorded 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
"He certainly meant a lot to the defense and was probably the top performer of that trio," Will Stone, a contributor for Good Bull Hunting, said. "Opponents had to devote a lot of resources to account for him and while it didn't always show up in the stat sheet, he did lead the team in pressures with 39 was a force against the run. The coaches counted on him in a big way and, for the most part, he delivered. And not just with his level of play, but also his availability. He played >40 snaps in every game except McNeese and NMSU (where he sat the second half). I do think there are some 'what if' thoughts on how things might have gone had he reached his full potential during his A&M career."
Stewart is an alien. He has traits that you just can't coach. He's 6-5, 267 pounds, with 34-inch arms and a unique athletic profile. He's an explosive athlete. At the NFL Scouting Combine he put on a show, clocking a 4.59 40-yard dash and a 1.58 10-yard split. He also posted a 40-inch vertical and a 10-11 broad jump.
"When you see him dressed out on TV, he looks superhuman," Stone said. "Last August, A&M defensive coordinator Jay Bateman said in a press conference, 'If you gave me and you two hours in a lab to build a defensive end, they would come out looking like Shemar Stewart.'"
Stewart has a unique blend of power and speed. His play weight was closer to 280 pounds and he weighed in at the Senior Bowl at 281 pounds. He moves with light feet for a player his size. He has a flexible body and an explosive first step. He wins the corner with long, powerful strides to quickly close in on the quarterback. The former five-star recruit converts speed-to-power, and has bull strength to drive offensive tackles backward.
A lot will be made about his lack of sack production, but he did lead the team with 39 pressures and recorded 26 pressures in 2023. While he needs to develop more of a pass rush plan, there are a ton of traits to work with and he has unlimited potential.
"The lack of sacks in his career is head-scratching," Stone said. "When you watch his tape from 2023 and 2024, there are a handful that he just barely misses. Still, his potential as a pass rusher is unlimited due to his physical gifts. If he gets with the right team, it wouldn't shock me at all to see him put up double-digit sacks on a yearly basis."
Stewart is a physical presence against the run. He sets a firm edge and uses his length to lock out. He has great range and can chase down ball carriers as a backside defender. He's a violent tackler and recorded 15 run stops this past season.
"At A&M, his size and strength allowed him to really set the edge in the run game," Stone said. "Even though he will play lighter in the NFL, he will still have plenty of mass and strength to be a plus run defender. His straight-line speed is rare for his size and opposing teams would be wise not to make him the read man in any sort of option play. He's not going to stand around waiting for something to happen, he's just going to blow you up."
With his size, strength and explosiveness, Stewart has all the tools in the shed to be an offensive tackle's worst nightmare. Once he develops a deeper bag of tricks, Stewart has the potential to develop into a game wrecker.
"With Stewart, you're betting on his tremendous upside," Stone said. " His traits and athleticism are extremely rare, and while the sack numbers aren't there yet, the pressures are a positive indicator. At a minimum, you're getting a player who is a great run defender and has a shot to be an elite pass rusher. Stewart cutting down to 267lb from his 290-pound playing weight would also make me feel better as a general manger with regards to his level of commitment to playing football."
Gutekunst made it clear at the NFL Scouting Combine that they need the defensive line to create more chaos if they are going to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
"We need to affect the quarterback more in our front four, with just four players," Gutekunst said. "I'm excited about the guys we have in the room, we'll see if we add to it, but that's gotta get better if we're going to accomplish our goals we want to accomplish in this season."
Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness are slated to be the starting defensive ends when the season opens up in September. The Packers are hoping Gary enjoys a bounce-back season and that Van Ness, the 2023 first-round pick, enjoys a breakout season.
Even if both of those things happen, the Packers could stand to add talent to that room. If Stewart somehow falls to the Packers in the first round, he'd bring juice to Green Bay's pass rush and would provide the Packers pass rush rotation with a much-needed shot in the arm. If he's still on the board, don't be shocked if Gutekunst adds another pass rusher to the mix.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Unpacking Future Packers: No. 20, Texas A&M DE Shemar Stewart
Continue reading...
A year ago, the Green Bay Packers selected Edgerrin Cooper with the 45th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. It marked the third Texas A&M Aggie that Brian Gutekunst drafted since taking over as general manager in 2018.
Gutekunst could once again return to the talent pool at College Station during the 2025 NFL Draft by taking Shemar Stewart with the 23rd overall pick. The Texas A&M defensive linemen checks in at No. 20 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A five-star recruit out of Florida, Stewart recorded 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks during his first season on campus. In 2023, Stewart recorded two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. This past season, the former five-star recruit recorded 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
"He certainly meant a lot to the defense and was probably the top performer of that trio," Will Stone, a contributor for Good Bull Hunting, said. "Opponents had to devote a lot of resources to account for him and while it didn't always show up in the stat sheet, he did lead the team in pressures with 39 was a force against the run. The coaches counted on him in a big way and, for the most part, he delivered. And not just with his level of play, but also his availability. He played >40 snaps in every game except McNeese and NMSU (where he sat the second half). I do think there are some 'what if' thoughts on how things might have gone had he reached his full potential during his A&M career."
Stewart is an alien. He has traits that you just can't coach. He's 6-5, 267 pounds, with 34-inch arms and a unique athletic profile. He's an explosive athlete. At the NFL Scouting Combine he put on a show, clocking a 4.59 40-yard dash and a 1.58 10-yard split. He also posted a 40-inch vertical and a 10-11 broad jump.
"When you see him dressed out on TV, he looks superhuman," Stone said. "Last August, A&M defensive coordinator Jay Bateman said in a press conference, 'If you gave me and you two hours in a lab to build a defensive end, they would come out looking like Shemar Stewart.'"
Stewart has a unique blend of power and speed. His play weight was closer to 280 pounds and he weighed in at the Senior Bowl at 281 pounds. He moves with light feet for a player his size. He has a flexible body and an explosive first step. He wins the corner with long, powerful strides to quickly close in on the quarterback. The former five-star recruit converts speed-to-power, and has bull strength to drive offensive tackles backward.
A lot will be made about his lack of sack production, but he did lead the team with 39 pressures and recorded 26 pressures in 2023. While he needs to develop more of a pass rush plan, there are a ton of traits to work with and he has unlimited potential.
"The lack of sacks in his career is head-scratching," Stone said. "When you watch his tape from 2023 and 2024, there are a handful that he just barely misses. Still, his potential as a pass rusher is unlimited due to his physical gifts. If he gets with the right team, it wouldn't shock me at all to see him put up double-digit sacks on a yearly basis."
Stewart is a physical presence against the run. He sets a firm edge and uses his length to lock out. He has great range and can chase down ball carriers as a backside defender. He's a violent tackler and recorded 15 run stops this past season.
"At A&M, his size and strength allowed him to really set the edge in the run game," Stone said. "Even though he will play lighter in the NFL, he will still have plenty of mass and strength to be a plus run defender. His straight-line speed is rare for his size and opposing teams would be wise not to make him the read man in any sort of option play. He's not going to stand around waiting for something to happen, he's just going to blow you up."
Fit with the Packers
With his size, strength and explosiveness, Stewart has all the tools in the shed to be an offensive tackle's worst nightmare. Once he develops a deeper bag of tricks, Stewart has the potential to develop into a game wrecker.
"With Stewart, you're betting on his tremendous upside," Stone said. " His traits and athleticism are extremely rare, and while the sack numbers aren't there yet, the pressures are a positive indicator. At a minimum, you're getting a player who is a great run defender and has a shot to be an elite pass rusher. Stewart cutting down to 267lb from his 290-pound playing weight would also make me feel better as a general manger with regards to his level of commitment to playing football."
Gutekunst made it clear at the NFL Scouting Combine that they need the defensive line to create more chaos if they are going to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
"We need to affect the quarterback more in our front four, with just four players," Gutekunst said. "I'm excited about the guys we have in the room, we'll see if we add to it, but that's gotta get better if we're going to accomplish our goals we want to accomplish in this season."
Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness are slated to be the starting defensive ends when the season opens up in September. The Packers are hoping Gary enjoys a bounce-back season and that Van Ness, the 2023 first-round pick, enjoys a breakout season.
Even if both of those things happen, the Packers could stand to add talent to that room. If Stewart somehow falls to the Packers in the first round, he'd bring juice to Green Bay's pass rush and would provide the Packers pass rush rotation with a much-needed shot in the arm. If he's still on the board, don't be shocked if Gutekunst adds another pass rusher to the mix.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Unpacking Future Packers: No. 20, Texas A&M DE Shemar Stewart
Continue reading...
