With training camp set to start next week, the Cincinnati Bengals still haven’t made progress in signing their first-round draft pick, Shemmer Stewart. Stewart, a 21-year-old defensive player, left Cincinnati’s mandatory mini-camp in June due to disagreements over contract guarantees. Negotiations between Stewart and the Bengals reportedly continue but without any advancement.
As of Tuesday, Stewart has been working out at Texas A&M, where he played college football for three years. The Cincinnati Enquirer confirmed his use of the Texas A&M facilities. According to Kelsey Conway of the Enquirer, it’s quite common for NFL players, especially those living in the area, to use their former college’s training resources. Stewart is not practicing with the Texas A&M team but is simply utilizing their facilities to stay in football shape.
Stewart isn’t the only rookie unsigned; Denver Broncos cornerback Jahdae Barron, another first-round pick, also remains unsigned but has been participating in his team’s minicamp and working out in Texas. Unlike Stewart, Barron has no public contract disputes with his team and expressed positive sentiments about his minicamp experience.
The situation with Stewart, however, is different, with public tension between him and the Bengals. He attended the minicamp in June but did not take part in drills and left on June 12 without a contract.
The delay stems from disagreements over contract guarantees, which are unusual under the rookie pay scale. As the 17th overall draft pick, Stewart’s deal should be a four-year, $18.9 million contract with a fifth-year team option. The Bengals reportedly want to set a precedent by structuring the contract to allow them to void future guaranteed money, a condition Stewart opposes.
Stewart has voiced his frustration, emphasizing the importance of being on the field for training camp to prepare his body for the NFL’s physical demands. For now, he continues to train independently with no clear progress in contract talks.
If the stalemate extends into the season, Stewart must either sign a contract by Tuesday, August 10, or he will be ineligible to play in 2025. Failing to sign before the 2026 draft would also let him re-enter the draft, making him available to other teams.
Stewart is not the only Bengal facing contract issues; defensive end Trey Hendrickson, coming off back-to-back 17.5 sack seasons, is also without a new deal. Hendrickson described the deadlock as “personal,” and his participation in training camp is uncertain. As of Tuesday, no new agreement had been reached, with the rookie camp starting Friday and veterans due next Tuesday.
Fan Take: This contract standoff highlights the growing tensions between NFL rookies and teams over guaranteed money and contract conditions, a crucial issue for the sport’s future labor dynamics. For fans, these disputes can affect team readiness and player performance, making the preseason and upcoming season potentially unpredictable and impacting the overall NFL experience.
