With no end in sight between the Cincinnati Bengals and rookie Shemar Stewart in their contract dispute, one analyst has proposed a trade for the San Francisco 49ers.
Stewart and the Bengals are at odds over language in his contract that would allow the team to void future guarantees. As a result, Stewart has not signed his contract and has yet to practice with the team.
If the situation doesn't get resolved, Stewart could decide to sit out in 2025 and re-enter the draft in 2026. Or, the Bengals could trade his rights, which would have to occur by the first week of August.
Sports Illustrated's Grant Cohn sees this as an opportunity for the 49ers and thinks the NFC West squad should make a play for the first-round pick.
And the 49ers might need Stewart. That's because their first-round pick, Mykel Williams, is injured already. He missed the second week of OTAs plus all of minicamp with a hamstring injury. Last season, he had a high-ankle sprain that limited his productivity.
In addition, veteran defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos missed all the spring practices as well. That's a big reason the 49ers traded for Bryce Huff.
A team never can have too many defensive linemen, and the 49ers currently don't have enough. They're thin at the position. Don't be surprised if they call up the Bengals and make an offer for Stewart.
This kind of trade would be unprecedented. We never see a team fail to sign a first-round pick and then turn around and trade him before he plays a snap.
That said, there remains a slim chance it actually happens. Stewart is frustrated and doesn't look like he's going to budge, and neither do the Bengals. Instead of risking losing Stewart for nothing, Cincy could consider such a wild idea.
Stewart isn't the only disgruntled edge rusher in Cincinnati, as four-time Pro Bowl EDGE Trey Hendrickson is also locked in a dispute with the team and has said he won't play if he doesn't get a new contract with a raise.
It once looked like the Bengals would have a promising duo along the edge in Stewart and Hendrickson, but there stands a chance neither one will be in Cincinnati in 2025.