2025 NFL Draft prospect profile – Josaiah Stewart, Edge, Michigan

The New York Giants may discover themselves in want of a well-rounded edge defender to assist reinforce their defensive entrance rotation. And if that’s the case, they might take an extended have a look at Michigan edge defender Josaiah Stewart.

Stewart has been on the periphery of the dialog surrounding a gifted 2025 edge class, however hasn’t gotten all that a lot buzz to this point. The Bronx native is brief for an NFL edge at 6-foot-1 with 32-inch arms and he began his collegiate profession at Coastal Carolina College earlier than transferring to Michigan.

However as soon as at Michigan (and settling into an edge function) Stewart quietly turned among the finest edge defenders within the nation.

It’s additionally value noting for Giants followers that Stewart himself grew up a Giants fan.

Prospect: Josaiah Stewart (0)Video games Watched: vs. Alabama (2023), vs. Texas (2024), vs. USC (2024), vs. Illinois (2024)Crimson Flags: Undisclosed harm (2024, missed 1 recreation)

Measurables

Strengths

Greatest traits:

Hand utilization
Athleticism
Get-off
Approach
Aggressive toughness

Stewart is a compact, explosive, highly effective, and technically superior edge defender.

Stewart sports activities a dense physique at 6-foot, 248 kilos, which provides him nice pure leverage to go together with spectacular play power. He has a versatile and fluid decrease physique, which permits him to make sure that he’s nearly at all times the low man when taking over blockers. And, as talked about, he has actually spectacular play power, which elements into a number of areas of his recreation.

Stewart is ready to seamlessly mix energy, velocity, and finesse as a move rusher. He mixes explosive bull rushes, speed-to-power, uncooked velocity off the sting, and sudden inside strikes to be a real headache for offensive tackles. He bases his move rushes on an environment friendly rip transfer to maintain his chest plate clear, however counters it with long-arm, push-pull, swipe, and pure bull-rush strikes. Stewart is ready to use his velocity and method to blow previous blockers in a blink (or drive holding penalties). And when taking part in with leverage, he’s additionally able to placing a lot bigger blockers on skates – as he did towards 340-pound J.C. Latham when Michigan performed Alabama within the 2024 School Soccer Playoffs.

That power additionally lends itself to good run protection. Stewart is a extremely disciplined run defender who understands his function within the general scheme and learn how to place himself to leverage the ball. He is aware of the place his assistance is and positions his hips within the applicable hole to remove dashing lanes. His power permits him to carry blockers and drive the ball again inside to his teammates, whereas his method permits him to disengage to make a play on the ball service.

Stewart can also be able to dropping into protection to assist disguise strain packages. He’s additionally in a position to flip and run with most tight ends and is ready to at the very least muddy quarterbacks’ reads.

Weaknesses

Worst traits

Whereas he isn’t precisely undersized for a contemporary edge at 249 kilos, he’s quick at 6-foot-1 and in addition has comparatively quick arms at 31 ⅞ inches. His athleticism and method continuously counter these points towards collegiate tackles, and his recreation is tailor-made to make use of his top as an asset.

He can battle towards even average-sized tackles in the event that they’re prepared for his velocity off the sting and are in a position to cope with his move rush strikes. Stewart lacks the size to beat a very good punch from an average-sized deal with, and he lacks the mass to overpower them in the event that they’re in a position to latch on.

Stewart can also be barely missing in athleticism in comparison with a contemporary off-ball linebacker. That isn’t a difficulty as an edge defender, however he most likely shouldn’t be requested to play in area too typically.

His lack of dimension in comparison with defensive ends and athleticism in comparison with off-ball linebackers may make him much less invaluable for groups that don’t incorporate many “multiple” ideas into their protection.

Sport Tape

(Stewart is No. 0)

Projection

Stewart initiatives as a beginning edge defender for a “multiple” protection. He would possibly start as a rotational participant, maybe as a move rush specialist contemplating he led FBS in move rush win price (27.3%). Nevertheless, he has the upside to be an every-down defender early in his profession and an affect participant in the precise state of affairs.

Few (if any) groups run pure 4-3 or 3-4 appears these days, however groups that lean closely into one and don’t use as many “multiple” ideas may not be involved in Stewart.

Stewart continues to be an ascending expertise. During the last 4 years he’s performed defensive deal with, linebacker, and edge. He’ll possible discover a residence as an edge defender within the NFL, and may solely get higher with constant apply and training.

His body will at all times be a little bit of a difficulty, however his athleticism, method, and play power ought to make him a participant that groups are comfy with on the sector in any down and distance.

Does he match the Giants?Sure

Remaining Phrase: First-round expertise, however second-round worth because of size considerations.