By Sunday 
The 49ers Are in Unfamiliar Territory — and That Might Be a Good Thing
The San Francisco 49ers are usually allergic to picking in the top half of the first round. When you’re a perennial playoff team with Super Bowl aspirations, those early picks tend to go elsewhere. But 2025 offers a rare opportunity. With the 11th overall pick, the Niners are staring down a much-needed shot of youth and explosiveness—particularly in the trenches.
And if The Athletic’s Dane Brugler is right, that injection might come in the form of one of the most divisive players in this year’s class: edge rusher Shemar Stewart.
A Prospect with Tools… and a Ton of Questions
Let’s get one thing straight: Shemar Stewart looks like an NFL superstar. He ran a ridiculous 4.60-second 40-yard dash and posted a 40-inch vertical—at 6’5″, 267 pounds. Those are freaky numbers. Combine that with some eye-popping reps at the Senior Bowl, and it’s easy to see why someone might fall in love with his potential.
But here’s the catch: he logged just 1.5 sacks in each of his three college seasons. That’s not a typo. Despite all the physical gifts, he simply didn’t get home to the quarterback very often at Texas A&M.
Brugler acknowledged that:
“I certainly understand the reservations with Stewart and his lack of sack production in college — he isn’t a slam-dunk prospect. But… his dominant Senior Bowl flashes and elite explosion numbers at the combine could be enough to convince a pass rush-starved team such as the 49ers to bet on his tools.”
Translation? Stewart’s resume doesn’t scream first-round lock. But his upside? It might just whisper “future Pro Bowler.”
Why He Might Fit in San Francisco
It’s no secret that Kyle Shanahan’s best teams dominate the line of scrimmage. Whether it’s Nick Bosa terrorizing QBs or the offensive line plowing lanes for the run game, the 49ers’ identity is rooted in trench warfare. Stewart’s raw but promising skillset could be molded into something special in that kind of system.
Not only that—he’s already proven to be solid against the run and has experience rushing inside as a tackle. That versatility could give him a path to early playing time, even while his pass-rushing game matures.
High Ceiling, Low Floor
Drafting Stewart at 11 would be a bold move. He’s not the safe pick. He’s not the polished product. But with the 49ers at a crossroads—aging core, rising contracts, and the need for future stars—it could be exactly the kind of swing-for-the-fences pick that defines a new era.
At the very least, it would give us all something to talk about on draft night.