The overall situation regarding Shemar Stewart and the Cincinnati Bengals has been resolved. After a contract dispute, the rookie defensive player agreed to a fully guaranteed deal, his agent confirmed to several media outlets on Friday. The contract spans four years and is worth $18.97 million, fully guaranteed, marking a significant win for Stewart, who had initially contested the guaranteed money terms. This total includes a $10.4 million signing bonus, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
As part of the agreement, the Bengals revised a contentious clause that had caused the deadlock. Previously, this clause would have allowed Cincinnati to revoke Stewart’s guaranteed money if he performed any “harmful” actions. While the clause wasn’t completely removed, it was softened enough for Stewart to accept. Additionally, the Bengals agreed to pay $500,000 of Stewart’s signing bonus upfront instead of waiting until December, as part of the compromise.
This resolved one contract holdout for the Bengals, though veteran pass rusher Trey Hendrickson is still in negotiations for a contract extension, aiming to become one of the highest-paid players at his position. Stewart had left the team’s mandatory minicamp in June and missed the first day of training camp while negotiations were ongoing. The Bengals had been including this new clause in contracts for all rookies this year, but Stewart, their first-round pick, was the only one to push back.
Bengals owner Mike Brown called the standoff “silly” earlier this week and explained the practical reasons behind the contract terms. Meanwhile, Bengals player director Pernel Duke Tobin commented on Stewart’s situation, noting that Stewart was following his agent’s advice, though he personally disagreed with it. Stewart’s teammate Joseph O’Sai expressed hope that the situation would be resolved quickly, emphasizing the importance of rookie training camp for player development.
Now, Stewart is expected to join the Bengals’ training camp soon. Despite the dispute, he continued training independently at Texas A&M’s facility.
Fan Take: This resolution matters because guaranteed contracts protect players’ financial security, setting a precedent in the NFL for rookies negotiating tough terms. It also underscores the growing tension between teams pushing strict contract clauses and players seeking fair guarantees, which could shape future rookie contracts and negotiations across the league.
