The Cincinnati Bengals and first-round pick Shemar Stewart reached an agreement on a four-year, $18.97 million contract on Friday, his agent Zac Hiller told The Athletic.
The contract also includes a $10.4 million signing bonus.
The Bengals and Shemar Stewart have agreed to terms on his four-year, fully guaranteed rookie contract, agent Zac Hiller tells The Athletic.
The standoff is over in Cincinnati. pic.twitter.com/QXRIlqnQTV
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) July 25, 2025
The move is a big step for the Bengals and Stewart, who left the team’s mandatory minicamp earlier this week due to the contract being unsigned. Stewart departed camp so he wouldn’t distract his teammates while negotiating his contract, according to a league source, but did not hold back from sharing his true feelings in June amid the contract standoff.
The contract dispute stemmed from language the team included in his rookie deal. At the center of the conflict was a clause that allowed the Bengals to void guaranteed money if Stewart defaulted on the contract by engaging in conduct detrimental to the team — such as injuring himself during a prohibited activity or committing a criminal offense.
Until Friday, Stewart was one of two draft picks selected from this year’s draft who were unsigned. Now, Cleveland Browns second-round pick Quinshon Judkins is the lone remaining unsigned pick.
Stewart, a 21-year-old defensive end, was drafted at pick No. 17 out of Texas A&M.
“I’m 100 percent right,” Stewart said in June. “I’m not asking for nothing y’all have never done before. But in y’all case, y’all just want to win an argument instead of winning more games.”
The Bengals are dealing with another contract saga at minicamp with star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson not in attendance amid a contract extension standoff. His absence continues a contentious offseason while he waits to potentially reach a new deal. Hendrickson is in the final year of a contract extension he signed in 2023, with one year and $16 million remaining and a cap hit of $18.3 million.
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