By Joseph Michael Ricco IV
Shemar Stewart was drafted 17th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2025 National Football League Draft after playing defensive end at Texas A&M University. As a former five-star recruit and one of the most highly touted edge rushers in the country, Stewart was expected to be a major piece of the Bengals’ defensive rebuild. But entering July, he still has not signed his rookie contract and recently left the team’s mandatory minicamp. This article explains what is causing the hold-up, why the situation is highly unusual, what the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement says about both sides’ options, and what the most likely outcomes are going forward.
Why the Hold-Up?
The contract dispute between Shemar Stewart and the Bengals has nothing to do with money. Stewart is slotted to receive a fully guaranteed four-year deal worth just under $19 million, which is set by the league’s rookie wage scale. Instead, the disagreement centers around specific language the team wants to include in his contract. That language would allow the Bengals to void future guaranteed money if Stewart were to default on certain conditions, even in years after the incident occurred.
This kind of clause goes beyond what the team has used in other recent first-round deals. Similar language was not included in the contracts for Myles Murphy or Amarius Mims, both of whom were also first-round picks. Stewart has been clear that he is not asking for anything new, just for the team to treat him the same as those before him. With neither side backing down so far, the issue has grown into one of the most high-profile rookie contract standoffs in years.
Available Options
Under the terms of the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, the Bengals retain Shemar Stewart’s rights for the entire 2025 season. That means Stewart cannot play for any other NFL team this year unless Cincinnati trades him, which is allowed only until 30 days before the start of the regular season. After that deadline passes in early August, the team loses the ability to trade his unsigned rights. At that point, Stewart’s only real option, aside from signing the contract, is to sit out the season entirely.
If Stewart chooses not to sign and remains out through mid-November, he becomes ineligible to play at all in 2025. The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement states that a drafted player must sign his rookie deal by the Tuesday following Week 10 of the season in order to play that year. If he does not sign by that date, the Bengals still hold his rights, but Stewart could re-enter the 2026 NFL Draft. In that scenario, he would be available to all teams except Cincinnati. While this path is rarely used, it does remain a sort of last-resort option if the current impasse continues.
Stewart also has limited leverage due to the structure of the rookie wage system, which locks in contract value based on draft slot. However, one factor working in his favor is that he does not appear to be in a financial bind. After earning substantial name, image, and likeness (NIL) money while at Texas A&M, Stewart likely has the means to hold out longer than rookies in previous eras. That changes the leverage slightly, giving him more time to wait out the Bengals if he chooses.
Cincinnati has also shown little willingness to compromise on contract structure in past negotiations. The franchise has developed a reputation for holding firm in disputes, even if it means creating massive public tension. But with Stewart being one of only a handful of unsigned first-round picks entering July, and the only one who has walked out of camp entirely, the pressure is certainly building. If the team wants its top draft pick on the field by the start of training camp, it may need to decide whether insisting on precedent-setting language is worth the ongoing standoff.
What Happens Next
Although Shemar Stewart is not currently under an NFL contract, his options outside the league are present but limited. Technically, he could attempt to sign with another professional league like the Canadian Football League or the United Football League, but doing so would give the Bengals control of his NFL rights for up to three years under league rules. Given the risk of injury and the drop-off in exposure, it is unlikely Stewart or his camp would view that as a serious path forward.
Another far-fetched option would be trying to return to college football. NCAA rules prohibit a player from regaining eligibility after entering the draft, but Stewart could theoretically sue for reinstatement. Legal experts have floated the idea that his team might seek a court injunction arguing for additional eligibility based on technicalities or fairness grounds. While that strategy would be novel, it would almost certainly face major resistance and drag into a long legal fight. Few around the sport view it as realistic.
The most likely outcome remains a negotiated agreement between Stewart and the Bengals before the season begins. Both sides have strong incentives to get a deal done. Stewart certainly needs practice reps to develop, and the Bengals simultaneously need him on the field to help a struggling defense. As training camp approaches, deadlines will often help force resolution in contract disputes. Unless one side becomes completely entrenched, this standoff appears more likely to end with compromise than with either party walking away for good.
What to Watch
With NFL Training Camp 2025 around the corner, all eyes will be on whether the Cincinnati Bengals and 17th overall pick Shemar Stewart can find common ground before the first whistle blows. The sticking point in the contract remains clear, and the question now is whether either side will blink. If no deal is reached by early August, the trade window closes. If it drags into November, Stewart loses his shot to play at all in 2025. Until then, this standoff stands as a rare test of how much leverage a modern rookie in the NIL era really has, and whether Cincinnati is willing to risk short-term setbacks to set a long-term precedent.
Joseph Michael Ricco IV is a rising senior at the University of Texas at Austin studying sport management and government. He has experience in recruiting operations with Texas Football, training camp operations with the Kansas City Chiefs, and football data with Pro Football Focus. He also publishes work on sports law topics, including salary cap, NIL, and CBAs. Joseph plans to attend law school and pursue a career in football operations, player personnel, or administration.
References
Baby, B., & Fowler, J. (2025, June 13). When/how will Shemar Stewart’s impasse with the Bengals end? ESPN. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45500644/nfl-bengals-shemar-stewart-contract-holdout-trade-college
Breech, J. (2025, June 13). Re-enter the NFL draft? how Shemar Stewart could use CBA loophole to create nightmare situation for Bengals. CBSSports.com. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/re-enter-the-nfl-draft-how-shemar-stewart-could-use-cba-loophole-to-create-nightmare-situation-for-bengals/
Camenker, J. (2025, June 12). Why is Shemar Stewart Holding out? explaining contract dispute with Bengals. USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2025/06/11/shemar-stewart-holding-out-bengals-rookie-contract/84146501007/
FOX Sports. (2025, June 12). Bengals 1st-round pick Shemar Stewart leaves camp over contract dispute. FOX Sports. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/bengals-shemar-stewart-contract-dispute-2025-draft
Heltman, R. (2025, June 27). NFL insider offers more insight into ongoing Shemar Stewart Contract saga. Cincinnati Bengals On SI. https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/news/nfl-insider-tom-pelissero-offers-more-insight-into-ongoing-shemar-stewart-contract-saga-01jyscs9dmb6
