It’s no secret that the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense desperately needed upgrades this offseason. The team made many additions to the defensive side of the ball this offseason, but none more notable than Shemar Stewart. Stewart was expected to be the future of the defense in Cincinnati, but is now practicing with another squad with under 2 months till the season begins.
Coming out of college, Stewart was touted as a prospect with a limitless ceiling. His on-the-field production at Texas A&M was limited, but there was no denying the raw talent and athleticism he possessed. This led to Stewart shooting up draft boards even though he accumulated just 4.5 sacks across three collegiate seasons.
On the night of the draft, it was almost a guarantee that Stewart would hear his name called in round one. That’s exactly what happened, as Cincinnati selected the Defensive End 17th overall. Many believed the pick was disappointing, classifying it as a reach or too risky. Still, the Bengals took a chance on a prospect with extreme upside.
Cincinnati is no stranger to contract disputes, as they had a long-running battle with receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and are currently dealing with Trey Hendrickson. The issue with Stewart’s contract lies in the fact that the Bengals opted to include specific language that could potentially void certain guaranteed money in the future. This is something no previous first-round picks in Cincinnati have dealt with, leaving Stewart feeling slighted by the franchise.
While previous contract disputes have been with players already under contract regarding extensions, this is different. Stewart’s draft rights belong to the Bengals, but he hasn’t signed with the team, meaning he isn’t a Cincinnati player.
To avoid injuring himself and missing out on any of the money he could earn, Stewart has yet to practice with the Bengals this offseason. The lengthy battle between the two parties has gone on longer than many expected, leading to an unorthodox offseason training plan. Today, it was reported that Stewart is back in College Station, practicing with the Texas A&M Aggies football team, his new alma mater.
While many believe this means Stewart is heading back to play another year in college, that isn’t quite possible. Rookies are not eligible to return to school after declaring for the NFL Draft. Stewart could try to petition to regain eligibility, but it is incredibly unlikely that happen. So that leaves the question: what’s next for him?
The most likely option is that the Bengals give Stewart the same contract language as previous first-round picks Amarius Mims and Myles Murphy, and he signs with the team. It would be an anti-climactic ending to the saga, but the most realistic. Holdouts happen each year, and while there hasn’t been something like this in a while, the situations almost always work themselves out. At the end of the day, Cincinnati usually ends up making their players mad, but still works things out anyway.
If neither side ends up budging and a contract isn’t agreed upon, Stewart could do one of two things. He could request a trade, which is almost unheard of for rookies in the NFL, but still possible. Plenty of other teams would likely be willing to give the DE the contract he wants, likely for a bargain price considering the situation and timing. The Bengals aren’t typical participants on the trade block and want Stewart in stripes, making this a doubtful outcome, but it is a solution.
Stewart also has another option: holding out and entering his name in the 2026 NFL Draft. It’s hard to see this happening, but Stewart is technically allowed to hold out for the year and re-enter the draft next offseason. The move wouldn’t make much sense, as he would miss out on a year’s worth of both pay and reps, but it’s in the cards.
While no one is yet to budge, it’s hard to envision a future where Stewart isn’t in the black and orange come week one. Cincinnati had disputes with its star receivers as recently as March, but worked things out in the end. Stewart going to practice with his old college team doesn’t bode well for a solution soon, but there’s no chance he’ll be suiting up for the Aggies again. Whether it comes tomorrow or after training camp concludes, Stewart and the Bengals will reach a deal.
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