The Detroit Lions are hoping to finally find their way to the Super Bowl in 2025 after coming up short in the postseason once again last year. While they lost both their offensive coordinator, Ben Johnson, and their defensive coordinator, Aaron Glenn, to head coaching jobs across the league, head coach Dan Campbell is still in town, and the front office did a good job reinforcing the roster over the offseason.
While the start of the new season is quickly approaching, it’s fair to wonder if there are still moves this team could make. One situation that has caught the attention of folks across the league is the contract dispute taking place between the Cincinnati Bengals and their 2025 first-round pick, Shemar Stewart. With tensions boiling over, let’s take a look at a trade pitch that would see the Bengals cut their losses with Stewart and send him to the Lions.
Lions’ Shemar Stewart Trade Pitch
Lions get: Shemar Stewart
Bengals get: 2026 first-round pick
The Bengals selected Stewart with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. For all intents and purposes, the pick seemed pretty normal. Stewart was a highly rated defensive lineman out of Texas A&M who showcased the ability to be a three-down interior disruptor in the NFL. With Cincinnati dealing with some contract drama involving superstar pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, beefing up their defensive line in case he departed made sense.
The only problem is that the selection of Stewart created more contract drama for the Bengals front office. With Cincy trying to sneak in a clause that would void the guarantees in Stewart’s rookie deal if he got in trouble off the field, there has been a major holdup in these negotiations. Stewart has refused to practice for his new team to this point, and he even left mandatory minicamp a day early with no progress on his contract being made.
Now, Cincinnati finds themselves in a tough spot. Extending Hendrickson is the more pressing matter, but they can’t exactly ignore Stewart’s absence. With the former Aggies star threatening to hold out for the entire season, and potentially even re-enter the draft next year, the Bengals have to decide to either pay him or move on from him. If they do trade him, the Lions would make sense as a potential landing spot.
Detroit will be thrilled to get Aidan Hutchinson back in 2025, but the rest of their defensive line isn’t exactly great. Alim McNeil and D.J. Reader are solid veteran defensive tackles, but Marcus Davenport is a big question mark at defensive end across the line from Hutchinson. Stewart can line up all over the defensive line, and with a bit more skill needed on the d-line, he could be a perfect trade target if he hits the trade block.
Would Lions, Bengals Be Interested in This Shemar Stewart Trade?
GettyCincinnati Bengals edge Shemar Stewart
In a perfect world for the Bengals, Stewart signs his contract and suits up for the team. That’s very obviously not happening, though, which has forced the front office into a tough spot. If they do trade Stewart, they’d likely be looking for a first-round pick since they just invested one on him. Assuming all goes well for Detroit in 2025, this pick would come in towards the back of the first round, but Cincinnati would more than likely accept it.
The Lions, on the other hand, have an opportunity to add a premier player that wasn’t available when they were on the clock this year. Again, if the Lions live up to expectations, they likely wouldn’t have the No. 17 pick or higher in 2026, which is noteworthy since they are essentially trading for the No. 17 pick in 2025. Stewart profiles as a great fit, and this would be a huge win in terms of draft capital gained, meaning Detroit should try to make something happen here.
