It’s been nearly three months since the 2025 NFL Draft, but the Cincinnati Bengals still haven’t reached a contract agreement with their top selection, defensive end Shemar Stewart. The Texas A&M product remains the only unsigned first-round pick, and tensions between his camp and the Bengals show no signs of easing as training camp begins.
The team’s media day on Monday—a yearly tradition just before camp kicks off—was significant because it featured rare public comments from team owner Mike Brown. When asked about the ongoing impasse with Stewart, Brown didn’t hold back, expressing frustration with the nature of the negotiations. While rookie contracts are slotted and Stewart’s deal is expected to be a four-year contract worth nearly $19 million, the issue centers around the language within the deal, not the dollar amount.
The sticking point revolves around the voiding of future guarantees. The Bengals are seeking to include a clause allowing them to cancel Stewart’s guaranteed money if he’s arrested or suspended during his contract. Stewart’s representatives oppose that language, arguing that guaranteed money should remain intact regardless of potential off-field incidents. Brown made his position clear: “We’re not going to pay someone who ends up in jail.”
Stewart, for his part, remains firm in his stance. He believes he’s not asking for anything unreasonable—especially since the Bengals didn’t include similar clauses in the contracts of their last three first-round picks. From his perspective, the team is trying to make an example out of him.
However, the Bengals argue they’re merely aligning themselves with the rest of the NFL. According to director of player personnel Duke Tobin, most other franchises already include such protective language in rookie deals. Tobin insists that contract evolution must apply to both players and teams: “You can’t just demand the positive changes and block the ones that protect the organization.”
The impasse has already impacted camp, as Stewart didn’t report with other rookies last weekend. The real test will come when practices begin. If Stewart continues his holdout into August, he risks missing critical development time.
Tobin also subtly criticized Stewart’s agent, Zac Hiller, suggesting the defensive end is being led down a misguided path. “He’s getting advice I wouldn’t give,” Tobin noted.
Unless either party budges, this situation could linger for weeks. If history is any guide, a resolution may not arrive until well after the Bengals’ preseason opener on August 7.
Prediction: This contract standoff could extend deep into August unless Stewart’s side relents.
