49ers Trade Pitch Flips One Draft Pick for Disgruntled Bengals Star Shemar Stewart

The San Francisco 49ers have been active on the trade market seeking defensive line talent in recent days. 

Just recently on May 30, 2025 the 49ers traded a mid-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft to acquire pass rusher Bryce Huff, formerly of the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. 

But some 49ers insiders believe they should continue seeking help on the defensive line. Many 49ers faithful are urging the 49ers to consider trying to acquire 2025 Cincinnati Bengals first round pick Shemar Stewart after his recent drama with the Bengals organization. 

If the 49ers play their cards right, they might be able to acquire Stewart, a player that San Francisco really liked, for a bargain: just a second-round pick in next year’s NFL draft. 

The Bengals Have No Leverage in the Stewart Contract Dispute

Shemar Stewart continues to remain unsigned by the Bengals because Stewart takes issue with the language in his rookie contract, which allows the Bengals to void future financial guarantees.

This kind of contract is unprecedented across the Bengals organization and the NFL. Stewart just wants the kind of guarantees and financial security that Bengals first round picks have typically gotten. But the Bengals unfortunately have a history of prioritizing the team’s profit over winning, gaining a reputation as a cheap organization, so this doesn’t come entirely as a surprise. 

So if the Bengals and Stewart still can’t seem to come to an agreement, Stewart could hold out of this NFL season and reenter the 2026 NFL draft to be selected by a different team. 

The Bengals do not want to see their first round selection from the 2025 season go to waste. Given that Stewart could hold out and reenter the draft, meaning the Bengals would lose him for nothing, it’s very possible that the Bengals organization begins to get nervous around August 5. 

August 5 is the last day that the Bengals can trade Stewart if they don’t sign him. That’s when the 49ers can swoop in, encouraging the Bengals to cut their losses and send Stewart to San Francisco in exchange for a second-round pick. It’s not ideal for Cincinnati to trade a first round pick for a second rounder essentially straight up, but it’s better than losing Stewart for nothing. 

The 49ers Have Been Connected to Stewart Since Before the NFL Draft 

49ers insiders have suggested that the team acquire Stewart for months. Matt Maiocco even suggested that the 49ers take Stewart at 11th overall, and Grant Cohn seemed to suggest that Stewart was the 49ers’ second choice after their eventual selection, Mykel Williams. 

If the 49ers were as high on Stewart as these insiders suggest, that he was worthy of consideration for the 11th overall pick, then it makes perfect sense for the 49ers to part with their second round selection next season to get a second top-20 talent from this past NFL Draft. 

The 49ers will likely face competition to acquire Stewart if he becomes available. Bleacher Report listed the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions as the 3 most likely teams to acquire Stewart. 

The 49ers would also need to consider Stewart’s contract against the salary cap; he would likely command a four-year deal for around $19 million. The 49ers have already gone through a roster crunch this offseason due to salary cap constraints. 

But in the NFL, nothing is better than young, cheap talent. With Stewart’s potential, the 49ers could strike gold if they can coax the Bengals to part ways with Stewart for a second round pick.