Shemar Stewart, the final first-round pick to sign a rookie deal from the 2025 NFL Draft, has officially agreed to terms with the Cincinnati Bengals. His agent, Zac Hiller of LAA, confirmed the news on Friday.
Stewart, drafted 17th overall, signed a four-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $18.97 million, which includes a $10.4 million signing bonus. This agreement ends a tense standoff that had delayed his entry into training camp and offseason activities with the team.
Contract Language Dispute Ends with Compromise Benefiting Both Stewart and the Bengals
The holdout stemmed from disagreements regarding contract language that could potentially void guaranteed money. Stewart chose not to participate in offseason workouts and skipped the start of training camp as both sides negotiated the terms.
The Bengals had included clauses that would void guarantees under certain conduct scenarios, which was a sticking point. Team president Mike Brown clarified that this was meant to protect the franchise from paying players involved in serious misconduct.
Shemar Stewart (NFL)To finalize the deal, both parties made concessions. Stewart agreed to the Bengals’ proposed void language but, in return, secured a more favorable payout structure than previous No. 17 picks. This compromise broke the deadlock and allowed Stewart to finally join his teammates, albeit six days after the rookies had already reported to camp.
The situation highlighted the increasing tension between player guarantees and team protections in rookie contracts.
Previous Rookie Disputes, New Veteran Holdouts Add to Bengals’ Contract Management Challenges
While Stewart’s delay was noteworthy, it is not unprecedented. In 2018, linebacker Roquan Smith had a similar dispute with the Chicago Bears over void language.
Stewart’s negotiations were also marked by other grievances, including being offered a lower training camp roster bonus than Amarius Mims, despite being drafted higher. These factors added friction to an already difficult negotiation, but ultimately, an agreement was reached that satisfied both sides.
With Stewart’s situation resolved, the Bengals have turned their attention to another contract issue — veteran defensive end Trey Hendrickson. Entering the final year of his deal, Hendrickson has not reported to camp as he seeks a new contract following an All-Pro season.
Meanwhile, the rest of Cincinnati’s 2025 draft class has signed, including second-round pick Demetrius Knight. As NFL training camps kick off across the league, the Bengals are working to ensure roster stability amid lingering contractual challenges.
