Bengals, Rookie Shemar Stewart Locked in Contract Standoff as Training Camp Nears
The Cincinnati Bengals and first-round pick Shemar Stewart are currently locked in a contract dispute that’s threatening to derail the rookie edge rusher’s development before it even begins.
With training camp just weeks away, Stewart remains unsigned due to disagreements over contract language — specifically clauses that would allow the Bengals to void future guaranteed money. As a result, the highly touted rookie has yet to take the field for a single practice, a troubling sign for both his growth and Cincinnati’s defensive outlook.
Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski sees warning signs, writing that Stewart has “the potential to disappoint” in his first NFL season if the contract impasse continues.
“Shemar Stewart has all the potential in the world to become an elite edge-defender for the Cincinnati Bengals. First, he needs to agree to a contract. Second, he has significant development to do before reaching that point,” Sobleski noted.
The Bengals desperately need Stewart to contribute right away, especially as they look to bounce back from a 2024 season in which defensive struggles cost them a playoff berth. Complicating matters further, veteran pass rusher Trey Hendrickson is also in a contract standoff, reportedly seeking a raise that the team appears unwilling to provide.
If Hendrickson refuses to play under his current deal, a trade is very much on the table — and that would put even more pressure on Stewart to step into a major role from Day 1.
For a team with Super Bowl aspirations hinging on a defensive resurgence, Stewart’s absence from early reps is more than a minor setback. Without valuable time to adjust to the speed and complexity of the pro game, the rookie faces a steep climb to meet expectations in his debut season.
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