Bengals Holdout Shemar Stewart Escalates Rookie Contract Dispute

The Cincinnati Bengals are facing significant contract disputes with two key defensive ends: Trey Hendrickson and first-round draft pick Shemar Stewart. Stewart remains unsigned due to disagreement over specific contract language that could void future guarantees, a clause not present in last year's first-round pick's rookie deal, leading to a public standoff and his absence from on-field drills and minicamp. Hendrickson, the reigning sack leader, is also holding out for a new contract, compounding the defensive issues for a team that ranked 28th in a key defensive metric in 2024. Despite Stewart being present at team facilities initially, his frustration escalated to leaving mandatory minicamp, emphasizing his belief that the Bengals are prioritizing technical contract terms over team success. The situation is unusual for a rookie and has drawn attention to the broader challenge the Bengals face in managing their defense and maintaining team cohesion. While some hope exists for resolution as other first-round draft picks have signed, the Bengals’ offseason continues to be overshadowed by these unresolved contract disputes.