All Eyes on July: When Will Shemar Stewart Sign?
The standoff between the Cincinnati Bengals and their first-round pick, Shemar Stewart, continues to define a tense offseason. Despite ongoing negotiations, both sides remain at odds over the structure of his rookie contract.
Across the league, nearly every rookie has inked their deal—only two remain unsigned: Jacksonville’s Travis Hunter and Cincinnati’s Stewart.
There’s Good News—And a Timeline
While Stewart’s holdout is concerning, recent history offers some clarity. It’s not time to panic yet—but it’s also clear when that might change.
We’ve seen this before.
In 2024, Minnesota’s Dallas Turner—the 17th overall pick—was the 31st first-rounder to sign. His deal was delayed by contract language disputes. Sound familiar?
Turner ultimately signed on July 21st, the same day Vikings rookies reported to training camp. He didn’t miss a snap of camp and went on to post a solid rookie season with three sacks, three tackles for loss, 12 pressures, and an interception.
And who was the last first-round pick to sign in 2024? That would be Bengals offensive tackle Amarius Mims, the 18th overall pick. He signed on July 22nd—one day after Bengals rookies reported.
Mims took over at right tackle by Week 4 after Trent Brown’s injury and held the spot all season. While Pro Football Focus graded him 96th out of 140 tackles, he proved serviceable under pressure—a decent return for a late-signing rookie.
What This Means for Stewart
The similarities between Turner, Mims, and Stewart—draft position, contract hang-ups, and position—paint a clear picture. If past trends hold, expect Stewart to sign around the same time.
The Prediction
Although Cincinnati hasn’t announced training camp dates, rookies are likely to report around July 20th. That puts July 21st as the date Bengals fans should circle.
If Stewart hasn’t signed by July 22nd, then it’s time to worry—not just about his availability, but about his potential impact this season.
That is, if you weren’t already skeptical about his contributions to begin with.
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