With NFL training camp underway throughout the league, fans throughout the league will start to see how players from the 2025 NFL Draft class look on the practice field.
Which rookies will shine, which will struggle, and who will have veterans looking over their shoulder? Those will be stories sparking headlines in the weeks to come, but for one NFL team getting their top rookie in camp and on the practice field was top priority.
No. 17 overall pick ends rookie standoff: Is Shemar Stewart worth the drama?
Finally, after a long contract standoff, the Cincinnati Bengals and Shemar Stewart reached a fully guaranteed four-year rookie deal on Friday. As reported by NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, the deal includes a $500K signing bonus that Stewart will get now versus an initial payout in December.
While it’s a relief to get the rookie deal done, the contract dispute displayed a bit of drama from a player who has yet to take a snap in the NFL. The question Stewart will face going forward is whether he is worth the stress he has already put his team through, especially since he was drafted to help the team solidify the defensive end position highlighted by Trey Hendrickson’s contract dispute.
As one of the top pass rush prospects entering the 2025 NFL Draft, Stewart has the size, skillset and athleticism to be worth every penny, but now it’s time to get into camp and put in the work and prove to the organization and fans that he is ready to shine in Cincy and hopefully form a game wrecking duo with Hendrickson. If the star defensive end can’t work out a contract extension with the Bengals, Stewart’s value and the importance of ending the standoff will become that much more valuable.
Titans third-round pick showing off “natural instincts”
While there is great pressure on Stewart heading into his rookie season, a third-round pick in Tennessee has less pressure but could prove to be a very valuable player on defense. We are talking about Titans’ rookie safety Kevin Winston Jr. who is working his way back from a torn ACL injury that led him to slip in the draft.
Although he did miss his final college season, Winton’s talent and potential was enough to make him a late Day 2 pick who is already showing some of that promise in training camp. The safety came up with an interception against quarterback Brandon Allen in 7-on-7s showing off his speed and instincts as a secondary defender.
“On that one I was really reading off the quarterback’s shoulders,” Winston said, per the Tennessean. “I look to the receiver and saw him. He was right there. I was kind of hesitant on (colliding) with my guy with no pads on, but I’d seen the ball available, and I decided to go take it. That’s a natural instinct. If the ball is available, we went to go get it.”
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More of those instincts will earn Winston Jr. more snaps once the NFL season begins and could up his stock as a draft steal for the Titans at the safety position.
In all, two rookies to keep your eyes on for two different reasons in training camp and beyond.