Bengals sign Shemar Stewart: First-round pick inks fully guaranteed rookie deal after lengthy holdout

The Cincinnati Bengals finally ended their lengthy contract standoff with first-round pick Shemar Stewart, as the defensive end signed a four-year, fully guaranteed $18.97 million rookie contract that includes a $10.4 million signing bonus. Stewart, selected 17th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, becomes the final first-round pick to sign his rookie deal after a dramatic holdout that lasted through the team's entire offseason program and into training camp. The dispute was never about money, as rookie contracts are predetermined under the NFL's wage scale, but rather centered on contract language regarding the potential voiding of future guarantees that was not present in previous Bengals first-round picks' deals.

The resolution required compromise from both sides, with Stewart agreeing to the Bengals' new contract language while Cincinnati moved $500,000 of his signing bonus to be paid upfront. The Texas A&M product had missed all of Cincinnati's offseason activities, including mandatory minicamp in June, where he briefly attended before leaving after publicly criticizing the organization for "wanting to win an argument instead of winning more games." Stewart's athletic profile is considered exceptional with a perfect 10.0 RAS (Relative Athletic Score), the highest among defensive ends since 1987, though he managed just 4.5 sacks in three college seasons. With this contract resolved, the Bengals can now focus on their remaining holdout situation with star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who led the NFL with 17.5 sacks in 2024 and is seeking a new contract extension.