The Los Angeles Rams made a pair of selections on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft last month that included taking Michigan edge rusher Josaiah Stewart with the No. 90 overall pick.
Stewart’s senior season with the Wolverines included 33 tackles, 8.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 11 games. He totaled 150 tackles and 30 sacks in two seasons at Michigan (51 games) after beginning his collegiate career with Coastal Carolina.
On Episode 2 of “Behind The Grind,” Rams head head coach Sean McVay said Stewart was high on his draft board and can’t wait to see him contribute on the defensive line:
“I had a lot of love for him right when I put eyes on him. This is a good pick. This is a good pick, man. There was a couple guys that stood out that add to the f—ing violence of our front, and he was one of them. You had a lot of love for him and I second that. If you said a couple weeks ago that we’d pull off Ferguson and this guy, we’d feel good about that.”
McVay compared to Stewart to Braden Fiske and Jared Verse, who had similar paths to the NFL before going on to enjoy excellent rookie seasons:
“This is like (Braden) Fiske and (Jared) Verse. This guy transferred up, overachiever.”
For McVay to already place Stewart in the same category as Fiske and Verse shows how highly the Rams think of the 22-year-old.
With the departure of Michael Hoecht in free agency, Stewart should get some opportunities from the jump as a rotational pass rusher if he has an impressive camp.
Stewart is one of several Rams’ draft picks who have already signed their rookie contracts and will be a full go for training camp in July.
Josaiah Stewart reflects on being drafted by Rams
Josaiah Stewart reflected on being drafted by the Rams and believes it was a culmination of all the hard work he put in along the way.
“Just the emotions running through me on that phone call, man, I just couldn’t hold it in,” Stewart said of getting the call from Rams general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay.
“Even right now, just thinking back on it, everything that went into this moment and all the people that were here supporting me and hearing them, how proud they were of me and everything I do this for, they were all there. I’m just glad it all worked out. I’m just happy to be a Ram. Let’s do it.”
