Monti Ossenfort’s #1 2025 Draft Pick Fascination?

Here is an educated guess.

Yesterday, I conducted two polls, one on X and one here at ROTB.

ROTB Poll: Which Top 30 visitor in this poll do you think is the Cardinals’ highest ranked player? – Revenge of the Birds

Here are the poll results thus far (as of 8 am EST):

• Justin Simmons —- 9.7% (19 votes) on X —- 27% (42 votes) at ROTB
• Jalon Walker —- 46.2% (91) on X —- 31% (49) at ROTB
• Shemar Stewart —- 5.1% (10) on X —- 12% (19) at ROTB
• Will Johnson —- 39% (76) on X —- 30% (48) at ROTB

Justin Simmons comments:

Jalon Walker comments:

Shemar Stewart comments:

Will Johnson comments:

My comment yesterday amidst the voting:

And my hunch is —- Monti Ossenfort’s #1 2025 draft pick fascination is:

Shemar Stewart, DE, 6-5, 270, Texas A&M

Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images

First, Monti’s fascination it goes back to the Senior Bowl.

Texas A&M DE Shemar Stewart shines at Senior Bowl – Good Bull Hunting

Monti loves scouting at the Senior Bowl. That’s often where his draft fascinations are manifested and confirmed.

Nine of Monti’s draft picks the past two years have come from the Senior Bowl:

• 2023: WR Michael Wilson, G Jon Gaines II, QB Clayton Tune, LB Owen Pappoe,
• 2024: DE Darius Robinson, CB Max Melton, G Isaiah Adams, CB Elijah Jones, T Christian Jones,

Secondly, here was Monti’s response at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis when asked about what he’s looking for in a defensive lineman: (per Arizona Republic)

At the 2025 NFL Combine, Arizona Cardinals General Manager Monti Ossenfort discussed the team’s emphasis on defensive line versatility, particularly in the 2025 draft. Ossenfort highlighted the Cardinals’ desire for players who can align at multiple positions on the defensive line. The team has also emphasized the importance of finding players who can make an impact both on and off the field, according to a report by The Arizona Republic.

• Versatility is a priority: The Cardinals are looking for defensive linemen who can play multiple positions, allowing for flexible schemes and matchups, according to an article on azcentral.com.
• Impact players: Ossenfort emphasized the importance of adding players who can make a significant contribution to the team, both on and off the field, stated azcardinals.com. [1, 1]
• Defensive line focus: The Cardinals have been actively seeking to improve their defensive line, and the 2025 draft is an opportunity to add talent to that position group, reports azcentral.com.

Is there a more versatile, physically talented DE in the 2025 NFL Draft than Shemar Stewart?

Per Lance Zierlein:

Overview

Stewart is carved from granite, possessing a rare blend of traits, explosiveness and untapped upside. He’s long and sudden off the snap but hasn’t learned to weaponize his hands to control the point of attack and bypass protection with go-to moves. His bull-rush compresses the pocket off the edge, and he’s too athletic for guards when reduced inside. He can be very disruptive in both phases but requires additional training to start converting his opportunities into finishes. The lack of production relative to the traits is a concern; still, players who move like him are highly coveted. While the boom-or-bust label might be in play, it feels like a matter of time before it all starts to click at a high level.

Per NFL Draft Buzz:

Draft Profile: Bio

South Florida’s Shemar Stewart burst onto the recruiting scene as a sophomore at Monsignor Pace High School, where his combination of size and explosive get-off had college programs salivating. The former five-star recruit and Under Armour All-American dominated Florida 4A competition with 48 tackles and 15 sacks as a sophomore, establishing himself as one of the nation’s most coveted defensive prospects in the 2022 class.

After fielding offers from virtually every blue-blood program, Stewart took his talents to College Station where he made an immediate impact, appearing in all 12 games with six starts as a true freshman. His development continued through his sophomore campaign, highlighted by a pick-six against Mississippi State, before earning All-SEC Third Team honors as a junior when he led the Aggies with seven QB hurries and accumulated 5.5 tackles for loss. The 6’5”, 267-pound defender proved remarkably durable throughout his collegiate career, appearing in 37 games across three seasons.

While Stewart’s career sack production (4.5 total with exactly 1.5 in each season) doesn’t tell the complete story, his impact runs deeper than the stat sheet suggests. His presence was felt in 2024 particularly, where he racked up 39 total pressures over 315 pass-rushing snaps according to PFF, showcasing the disruptive potential that has NFL scouts drooling after his historic combine performance in Indianapolis.

Per Mel Kiper:

“Stewart is one of my ’LTP’ guys in the class; he looks the part. His physical traits, as we saw at the combine, will get the interest of teams seeking pass rushers, He leaped 40 inches in the vertical jump then ran a 4.59-second 40. But will the traits translate into production in the pros? His 4.5 sacks over three college seasons are unexpected from a player of his talent. If he puts it all together, though, Stewart has the upside to become a double-digit sack guy.

NFL Player Comps:

Here is where I believe the Cardinals are most fascinated.

On the one hand, Shemar Stewart has been compared physically to the likes of Myler Garrett, Danielle Hunter and Rashan Gary.

Height/Weight/Arms/Hands/40/10-yard split/V:

• Shemar Stewart —- 6-5/ 280/ 34 1/8”/ 9 5/8”/ 4.59/ 1.58/ 40”
• Myles Garrett —- 6-5/ 280/ 35 1/4”/ 10 1/4”/ 4.64/ 1.63/ 41”
• Danielle Hunter —- 6-5, 263, 34 ¹⁄_{2” / 10 1/2”/ 4.57/ 1.57/ 36.5”}
• Rashan Gary —- 6-4/ 277/ 34 1/8”/ 9 5/8”/ 4.58/ 1.63/ 38”

Jonathan Gannon is very familiar with Danielle Hunter. The rap on Hunter coming into the 2015 NFL Draft was his lack of college production. Here is Lance Zierlein’s analysis (it’s fascinating read):

By Lance Zierlein (nfl.com)

NFL Analyst

NFL Comparison

Jason Pierre-Paul

Overview

Hunter isn’t as heavy as Jason Pierre-Paul, but he has similar length, explosiveness and potential. The concern with Hunter is that his pass-rush instincts are marginal and he hasn’t learned to use his physical advantages to rush the quarterback more consistently. Hunter’s floor is high thanks to his overwhelming physical traits and motor, but his ceiling will only go as high as the level of coaching he is able to incorporate.

Strengths

Freakish combination of size, athleticism and explosiveness. Has long arms with jarring power behind his hands. When technique is right, he can stack and overpower tackles at point of attack. Fluid and agile in space. Uses length to bat down passes and disrupt the passing lane. Flashes winning spin move in pass rush, but needs to learn to set it up better. Uses arm-over inside move to set up tackles for loss. High-end tackle production for his position. Secondary motor to pursue and speed to chase leads to more tackle opportunities. Lead all SEC defensive linemen in “stuffs” (tackles for no gain or loss of yards) with 17. Active and energetic at all times. Continues to work to improve position vs. run and pass. Off-field character considered “squeaky clean” by NFL scouts. Has speed and agility to become special-teams star early in his career.

Weaknesses

Relies heavily on his athleticism and motor over skill and instincts. Pass-rush production doesn’t match the traits. Played 80 percent of the defensive snaps in 2014, managing just 1.5 sacks. Doesn’t have the upfield burst and bend to turn the corner. Considered a “thinker” as a pass rusher rather than a naturally instinctive reactor. Must show he can effectively counter as a pass rusher. Has winning power in hands, but inconsistent with how he uses them against run and pass. Scouts want to see more competitive nastiness from him.

Sources Tell Us

“If he walked into your living room, your eyes would pop out of your head. He looks that good on the hoof. He’s going to blow up the combine, and then ace all of the interviews and NFL teams are going to fall in love with him. He still needs someone to unlock all that talent, though.” — Former LSU coach

Yep —- someone unlocked all that talent and JG was on hand to see Hunter’s prodigious talents unfold. To date, Hunter has 99.5 career sacks.

Finally, the clincher as to why Monti is so enamored with Shemar Stewart?

Lets’ fast forward from the Senior Bowl to the NFL Combine to the start of NFL free agency. Who was Monti’s #1 target? Eagles DT Milton Williams. So much so that Monti found himself in a bidding war with the Patriots and Panthers for a salary north of $25M a year.

Why then is Monti’s interest in Shemar Stewart possibly related to Milton Williams?

On the other hand, remember how Monti was adamantly touting position versatility?

The fascination for Shemar Stewart is that for the Cardinals he could assume the interior pass rushing role that Milton Williams mastered in Philadelphia.

In fact, when one compares Milton Williams’ physical traits to those of Mason Graham, Walter Nolen and Derrick Harmon, the players who comes the closest to matching Milton Willaims’ traits is —- you might have guessed it —- Shemar Stewart.

Height/ Weight/ Arms/ Hands/ 40/ 10-yard split/ vertical

• Milton Williams: 6-3, 284, 31.5”, 9.7”, 4.63, 1.65, 38.5”
• Shemar Stewart: 6-5, 280, 34.2”, 9.7:, 4.57, 1.58, 40”
• Mason Graham: 6-4, 296, 32”, 9.2”. 5.10, 1.56, DNP
• Walter Nolen: 6-4, 296, 32.5”:, 9.5”:, 4.67, 1.74, DNP
• DH: 6-5, 313, 34.4”, 10.4”, 4.95/ 1.74/DNP

What’s absolutely remarkable about Milton Williams in his pre-draft process was that he posted a 4.33 short shuttle. Is that number for real? At his size? Michigan CB Will Johnson just posted a 4-33 short shuttle at his pro day.

Shemar Stewart disappointed scouts at his recent pro day because he didn’t run a short shuttle or do positional drills. Coincidentally, none of the top inside pass rushers elected to run a short shuttle. Perhaps they were aware of Milton Willams’ 4.33.

Myles Garrett did not run a short shuttle. However, Rashan Gary ran a 4.29 and Daniell Hunter ran a 4.47.

As we know, while Monti Ossenfort would prefer to have every testing time at his disposal, when he does not, he is willing to bet on what his instincts tell him about the player.

Therefore, perhaps Monti is breathing a sigh a relief today that Shemar Stewart elected not to run a short shuttle for the scouts, because if Stewart nailed a time in the 4.3 – 4.4 range, that may have ensured Shemar a top 15 selection. Like Lance Zierlein said, athletes with Shemar Stewart’s size and freakish athletic ability are hard to find.

One would think that Milton Williams at Louisiana Tech would have posted monster sack numbers. Not quite the case.

Career College Stats:

• Milton Williams: 49 solo tackles, 106 combined tackles, 19 TFLs, 10.5 sacks.
• Daniell Hunter: 52 solo tackles, 142 combined, 21 TFLs, 4.5 sacks
• Shemar Stewart: 30 solo tackles, 65 combined, 12 TFLs, 4.5 sacks

Note: While Milton Williams had only 5 regular season sacks last season but combine that with his 40 pressures and 26 QB hurries and it fully corroborates his innate ability to wreak havoc as an inside pass rusher.

Therefore, when Monti thinks about wreaking havoc from the inside pass rush these days, it’s easy to imagine why his fascination with Shemar Stewart is so alluring.

And there is history of physical-freaks, underachieving college pass rushers who turn into absolute beasts in the NFL.

A Possible Catch?

If Michael Bidwill is well aware that Cardinals’ fans are fawning over Jalon Walker and Will Johnson, then if Walker or Johnson are on the board at #16 and yet so is Shemar Stewart, will Bidwill have the deciding vote in the room?

Or —- has the owner decided that this year, whomever Monti wants, Monti gets?

I believe that Shemar Stewart, for all of the reasons outlined above, has been Monti’s guy all along.

Can you imagine Monti’s fascination with Shemar Stewart as well?

It’s like Monti has been prescribing it all along.