The Cincinnati Bengals have a big problem on their hands.
First-round rookie Shemar Stewart has yet to sign his contract, and it seems like he’s not going to budge.
Asked about that, Bengals executive Duke Tobin blamed Stewart’s advisers for not giving him proper counseling.
“I don’t blame Shemar. He’s listening to the advice he’s paying for. I don’t understand the advice. … We’re treating him fairly,” Tobin said, via Dov Kleiman.
Yikes: Bengals executive Duke Tobin on first-round pick Shemar Stewart still being unsigned:
“I don’t blame Shemar. He’s listening to the advice he’s paying for. I don’t understand the advice… We’re treating him fairly.”
😬😬😬 pic.twitter.com/oRbbw3mQJj
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) July 21, 2025
The Bengals reportedly are trying to incorporate new language into their contracts for first-round picks, and Stewart has drawn a line in the sand.
The language refers to the potential voiding of future guarantees, and while the Bengals have every right to include that type of clause in their contracts, Stewart claims that he wants to sign a standard rookie deal, like the one they gave their first-round picks in the past.
He’s been working out at Texas A&M, and some reports state that he could make an unprecedented move by trying to return to play in college after being drafted.
That doesn’t seem likely, and it would most likely require a complicated and intricate legal process, not to mention a considerable amount of time.
The Bengals have a long history of contentious negotiations with their star players, and that likely costs them in pursuit of free agents as well.
The season is just around the corner, and it’ll be interesting to see how this situation unfolds.
