The Cincinnati Bengals have found themselves at the center of a high-profile rookie contract dispute with their first-round pick, Shemar Stewart, a defensive end out of Texas A&M. The disagreement centers on the language in Stewart’s contract, specifically the conditions under which his salary guarantees could be voided.
Stewart’s discontent led him to skip and ultimately leave the team’s mandatory minicamp, raising alarms about unresolved issues between teams and incoming rookies across the league.
Tre Harris Headlines Widening Rookie Holdout Trend Among Unsigned Second-Round Draft Picks
While Stewart’s contract situation is grabbing headlines, he isn’t alone in facing contract complications. Tre Harris, a wide receiver from Ole Miss and a second-round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers, officially became the first rookie holdout of the year.
Harris was expected to report to training camp in El Segundo, California, but missed the deadline, signaling his unwillingness to join the team without a signed agreement. According to sources, negotiations are still ongoing, and Harris’s representatives have made it clear he won’t attend camp until a contract is finalized.
Tre Harris (NFL)Harris’s stance is emblematic of a broader issue involving second-round draft picks. An unprecedented 30 out of 32 second-rounders remain unsigned as of mid-July. This wave of holdouts stems from the ripple effect created by the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns, who awarded fully guaranteed contracts to the top two second-round picks — Jayden Higgins and Carson Schwesinger, respectively.
These deals set a new precedent and raised expectations for the rest of the second-round class, many of whom are now demanding similar guarantees.
Tyler Shough’s Demands Add Pressure as NFL Rookie Report Deadlines Quickly Approach
The stalemate has been further complicated by quarterback Tyler Shough, the 40th overall pick by the New Orleans Saints. According to CBS Sports, Shough’s camp is leveraging his unique position — a 25-year-old projected to start in the wake of Derek Carr’s retirement — to push for a fully guaranteed deal. His insistence has added pressure to ongoing negotiations league-wide and contributed to the slowdown in second-round signings.
As team report dates draw near, the pressure to settle these rookie contract disputes continues to build. The Chargers have already passed their rookie reporting deadline, and teams such as the Bills, Dolphins, Giants, Ravens, Seahawks, and 49ers are set to follow, with their rookies due to report by Tuesday.
By July 23, every NFL player is expected to be in training camp. Whether the impasse results in a win for the rookies or prompts teams to reset their contract strategies remains uncertain, but the influence of those early fully guaranteed deals is clearly shifting the dynamics of rookie negotiations.
