The Lions are still looking for that final piece to push them into Super Bowl territory — and a former first-round pick from the Bengals might be exactly what they need.
Cincinnati’s 2025 first-rounder, Shemar Stewart, hasn’t played a snap yet — and already, drama’s brewing. The Bengals tried to sneak a tricky clause into his rookie contract that would cancel his guaranteed money if he got in trouble off the field. Stewart’s not having it. He skipped out on minicamp and hasn’t practiced, leaving Cincy with a tough choice: pay the guy or ship him out.
That’s where Detroit comes in.
A trade proposal floating around suggests the Lions send a 2026 first-round pick to Cincinnati in exchange for Stewart. On paper, that’s a win-win. The Bengals recoup a first-rounder and move on from the mess, while the Lions get a top-tier talent who wasn’t even on the board when they drafted this year.
Stewart, a beast of a defensive lineman out of Texas A&M, can play anywhere up front — and Detroit needs help. Aidan Hutchinson is back, but questions linger about the rest of the line. Adding Stewart to a mix with Alim McNeill, D.J. Reader, and Marcus Davenport could make that front four nasty.
Sure, it’s a gamble. But if the Lions expect to pick late in the first round again in 2026, they’d basically be trading a future No. 25-ish pick for this year’s No. 17. That’s smart business — and a potential steal if Stewart pans out.
No deal has gone down yet, but this is definitely one to watch.
Trade Pitch Sends Disgruntled Bengals 1st-Rounder to the Lions
