Cincinnati Bengals Rookie Shemar Stewart Signs $18.97M Contract Ending Holdout

Shemar Stewart, the Cincinnati Bengals' 17th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, has signed a fully guaranteed four-year contract worth $18.97 million, including a $10.4 million signing bonus, ending his holdout and allowing him to join training camp. The holdout stemmed from a dispute over new contract language that could void future guarantees in case of suspensions or off-field incidents, a clause the Bengals had not previously included for first-round picks. After negotiations, Stewart agreed to the clause in exchange for an accelerated portion of his signing bonus. Despite missing offseason workouts and the first three days of training camp, the Bengals hope to develop Stewart's pass-rushing skills as he prepares for the season opener. Meanwhile, the Bengals continue contract talks with defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who is seeking a record salary for his position. The resolution of Stewart's contract highlights ongoing challenges in rookie negotiations about guarantee language and payout structures within the NFL.