Bengals and Cowboys Contract Disputes
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Shemar Stewart is the last unsigned first-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, but his holdout is not unprecedented.
By Wednesday, all 32 NFL teams will have opened training camp for veterans. Yet one first-round rookie, Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman Shemar Stewart, remains unsigned.
It seems to be above his pay grade,' Shemar Stewart's agent said in response to Bengals' Duke Tobin questioning the advice he was giving the rookie.
The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft took place 88 days ago, and somehow, in that time, the Cincinnati Bengals have failed to work out a deal with their top pick, Shemar Stewart. The pass-rusher from Texas A&M is the only remaining first-rounder who is still unsigned and if Monday was any indication,
Cincinnati Bengals first-round pick Shemar Stewart made headlines last week when a report revealed he was working out at Texas A&M facilities during his contract standoff.
Shemar Stewart's contract dispute with the Bengals centers on guarantee language that owner Mike Brown says would require payment even if a player commits misconduct.
The Cincinnati Bengals have not yet resolved rookie Shemar Stewart's contract situation. Amid this uncertainty, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that the team has signed second-round pick Demetrius Knight Jr. to a four-year rookie deal that pays him 80% as fully guaranteed money.