The NFL Combine is underway in Indianapolis, with prospects from around the nation looking to boost their draft stock through various drills. Not everyone will impress scouts, though, as performances in the 40-yard dash, bench press reps, and other measurements can either help or hurt a player’s standing.
Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart has emerged as an early winner from the first day of testing. Despite recording just 4.5 sacks during his three collegiate seasons, the former blue-chip recruit has maintained high standing with NFL scouts and appeared in several first-round mock drafts.
ESPN analyst Booger McFarland believes Stewart could be in contention for the draft’s top spot.
“Stewart should be in consideration for #1 overall with the questions surrounding Abdul Carter’s foot,” McFarland wrote on his X account.
Penn State’s Carter has recently been discussed as a potential first overall pick for the Tennessee Titans, but concerns about his foot have surfaced. Doctors have advised Carter against having surgery, creating uncertainty about his draft status.
Carter had a standout 2024 season with the Nittany Lions, tallying 12 sacks and 68 total tackles.
The last Penn State edge rusher to generate similar pre-draft buzz was Micah Parsons, selected 12th overall in 2021, who has developed into an elite defensive player for the Dallas Cowboys.
The Titans may find themselves in a situation similar to the 2022 NFL Draft, when teams debated between Georgia’s Travon Walker and Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson based on physical traits versus college production.
