One of the top priorities for the Chicago Bears, this offseason, has to be to improve their pass rush.
Fans will be quick to point out the lack of starting offensive linemen on the roster, and of course, that is priority no. 1. Chicago has to address the offensive line, and they will.
But, when it comes to giving Montez Sweat some additional help, that also has to be at the top of the list. The Bears must go out in free agency and the draft with pass rush as a clear top-3 priority.
One of the prospects in this 2025 class that's gotten some buzz as a Day 1 or Day 2 target is Shemar Stewart out of Texas A&M. He's being mocked in the top two rounds by many outlets, and the Bears own a pair of picks in that second round, so he's worth keeping an eye on.
At the Combine, this week, Stewart spoke with the media and made an eye-popping comparison for himself. When talking about who he models his game after, Stewart compared his game, body type and play style to NFL legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Julius Peppers.
That is quite the claim for a player who has some noticeable catching up to do if a comparison to Peppers is going to come anywhere close to adding up.
Shemar Stewart is a risky draft target for the Bears
First off, allow me to point out that college production (or lack thereof) doesn't always translate to the NFL one way or another. However, Stewart totaled just 4.5 sacks in three seasons at Texas A&M.
That's alarming.
His game is also predicated on turning speed to power without usage of many pass rush moves. He's relied on natural ability for most of his college career. To say he's a work in progress as a pass rusher is an understatement.
Related Bears news:
Sure, he has a ton of physical qualities to love. His size at 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds is intriguing. He's the perfect defensive end build and does pose a threat with his speed and overall strength. But, at the NFL level, he's going to be facing offensive linemen who are equally as strong and who are also quicker than what he's used to.
Stewart is a project. He is far from being the second coming of Julius Peppers.
While it's fun to hear a comparison like that and be led to believe that's who Stewart models his game after, it's another thing to see the comparison come to life on the field. And, that isn't necessarily something that pops often on tape.
Stewart will have some work to do, and because of that, he may not be worthy of a top-50 selection. Ryan Poles should proceed with caution.