VAN NUYS, Calif. – Josaiah Stewart couldn't restrain tears of joy after being drafted by the Rams with the 90th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
"Everything that went into this moment, the people that were here supporting me and just hearing them and how proud they were of me, and for everything I do this for, they were all there," Stewart said. "I mean, I was glad it all worked out and I'm just happy to be a f** Ram."
Stewart transferred from Coastal Carolina to Michigan prior to the 2023 season, where he led the team in sacks this past season. He had an inkling that the Rams liked him from their meetings during the draft process, saying they wanted another "violent" edge rusher to pair with Jared Verse and Byron Young, who also fit that description.
He learned "how to be a pro," at Michigan under former NFL defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale. There are a lot of similarities between the Wolverines' scheme and the Rams', which will help Stewart acclimate to the NFL.
"One thing (I learned at Michigan) for sure I would say is just knowing your role," Stewart said. "I mean, coming in from Coastal, from being the guy, from being the pass rusher, All-American, record sack leader, to coming to Michigan and being a role player and a rotational guy taught me a lot, man. It taught me what it means to win and what you got to do to play a role and win, man. I'm all about winning, so I'll do whatever it takes."
Stewart had 8.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in 2024, both of which led a Wolverines team that produced two first-round picks on the defensive line in the 2025 draft. On top of his talent, Stewart's big personality and desire to constantly grow makes him think he will fit in well with a defensive line unit that shares those traits.
"From high school, I used to teach guys things where I wasn't even a pro at yet," Stewart said. "Man, I'd see it on Instagram Reels and watch BT Jordan and dlinevids and do those same drills and teach other guys in my high school and just pushing guys, man, and that's how you get better at it every day is competing with one another and just getting better."
Joining former Michigan teammates Blake Corum and Josh Wallace will also afford Stewart some familiarity coming to Los Angeles, where he's only been twice in his life, including for the 2024 Rose Bowl where he recorded seven total tackles and a sack. He hadn't yet checked his phone to see if he'd heard from either of those teammates, because his phone was blowing up all night and he was "scared" to look.
Still, he had plenty of support. Stewart was surrounded by friends and family when he got the life-changing call from Los Angeles, but he gave a special shout out to his mom.
"I don't have enough words for her, and everything she's done, and I'm just happy to make her proud," Stewart said.
