Cincinnati Bengals first-round pick Shemar Stewart thought he was going elsewhere during the 2025 NFL draft. Let Stewart tell it, he thought that based on his pre-draft journey, he might wind up as a member of Jerry Jones' Dallas Cowboys.

As we stressed constantly, the Cincinnati Bengals weren't going to trade star defensive end Trey Hendrickson during the NFL draft. Before the process, one insider speculated the Bengals could trade Hendrickson if they took Shemar Stewart in the first round.

Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive end Shemar Stewart is selected by the Cincinnati Bengals as the number seventeen pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images