The Cincinnati Bengals and contract disputes are like two peas in a pod.
It seems to happen every offseason, just with a different cast of characters. Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have finally graduated out of contract purgatory, leaving just Trey Hendrickson as the lone veteran waiting for a deal.
On the bright side for Hendrickson, he’s getting some company in the form of two rookies who were just selected by Cincinnati in the 2025 NFL Draft – first-round pick Shemar Stewart and second-round selection Demetrius Knight Jr.
Both players were present at rookie minicamp on Friday, but watched from the sidelines thanks to what head coach Zac Taylor said was contract stuff. They are the final players from the Bengals‘ 2025 draft class who haven’t put pen to paper.
Shemar Stewart has yet to participate in rookie minicamp which is essentially a walk-through right now. He’s on the sideline watching but not participating in position work to this point
Demetrius Knight isn’t participating also.
Both have yet to sign their contracts pic.twitter.com/GBa12xv46b
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) May 9, 2025
Stewart, in particular, is an interesting development. The 17th overall pick is supposed to bolster the defensive line and add to a pass rush that may or may not have Hendrickson thanks to his own contract dispute.
He addressed the situation on Friday.
““I just decided not to sign those papers,” Stewart told reporters, adding he hopes to have the situation resolved before Monday. “I hate being on the sideline looking at everybody else do work.”
“I just decided not to sign those papers … I hate being on the sideline looking at everybody else do work.”
Bengals 1st round pick Shemar Stewart said he hopes to have his contract signed by next week.
He did not participate in rookie minicamp today, but was present.#Bengals… pic.twitter.com/8HWqmL3ROV
— Caleb Noe (@CalebNoeTV) May 9, 2025
Contract disputes for rookies tend to happen every offseason, even if they are few and far between nowadays.
Rookie contracts in the NFL are slotted and for a fixed length of time, leaving little room for negotiation.
In Stewart’s situation, he will end up with a four-year contract that eventually comes with an option for a fifth year because he was taken in the first round.
Guaranteed money and offset language are the only two things for both sides to haggle over in this process. It’s unclear what the hold-up is with Stewart and how far apart they are.
There is still a long way to go until training camp, however, so don’t sound the alarms just yet.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shemar Stewart holdout: Bengals rookie hasn’t signed contract