Bengals, Rookie Shemar Stewart Dispute Contract Guarantee Language

Shemar Stewart, the Cincinnati Bengals' 2025 first-round pick, remains unsigned and is refraining from practicing due to a contract dispute centered on specific default language that the Bengals want to include. The Bengals seek to add a clause causing a default in the current year to trigger a default in all remaining years, effectively voiding future guarantees in Stewart's four-year rookie deal, a provision not present in similar contracts of recent first-round picks like Amarius Mims, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins. Stewart, picked 17th overall, insists on consistent contract language matching that of Mims, who was selected one spot later, emphasizing that first-round picks should receive fully guaranteed contracts without additional voiding clauses. The Bengals' attempt to alter longstanding contract precedents during ongoing holdouts, including that of Trey Hendrickson, has complicated negotiations and created a standoff with Stewart, who is reportedly holding out on principle rather than financial demands. Despite attending team meetings, Stewart's refusal to sign or practice highlights the Bengals' internal challenges in managing rookie contracts and maintaining trust with their draft selections. The dispute underscores the tension between the franchise's desire to protect itself contractually and players' insistence on fairness and consistency in guaranteed money clauses.