It is overwhelmingly easy for Cincinnati Bengals fans to turn on first-round edge rusher Shemar Stewart. He’s a raw prospect who is expected to contribute in Year 1 for a Super Bowl contender. With 4.5 collegiate sacks to his name, he has a lot to prove, and holding himself out of practice isn’t helping.
Stewart is currently holding out due to issues with his rookie contract. But the Bengals aren’t a damsel in obtuse-rookie distress. This is a mess of Cincinnati’s making, and one it doesn’t deserve sympathy for.
The Bengals' rookie has a reasonable request amid his contract holdout – the same treatment as his predecessors.
“Cincinnati Bengals first-round pick Shemar Stewart remains unsigned by the team and isn’t practicing with the team during the voluntary workout program due to a continued dispute over the language in his contract, a source told The Enquirer,” Kelsey Conway reported. “He won't practice with the Bengals until his contract situation gets resolved.
“Stewart is requesting that his contract language mirror the last two Bengals’ first-round picks, both of which were selections after pick No. 17. Right tackle Amarius Mims (2024) was selected with the No. 18 overall pick and defensive end Myles Murphy (2023) was taken at pick No. 28, according to a source.”
It isn’t immediately clear what language Stewart is disputing, whether it be a matter of the bonus schedule or offset clauses. His salary and signing bonus, set by his draft position, are not part of that discussion.
Simply put, there isn’t any real reason for the Bengals to be so stingy. They’ve clearly been willing to hand those contracts out before, and if anything, edge rusher Trey Hendrickson’s uncertain future makes Stewart even more of a priority.
For now, Cincinnati has remained confident in a deal getting done. Anything less would be untenable.
"We expect that as other first-round draft picks get signed, this will get resolved,” the team said, via Conway.
This still isn’t an issue fans have to panic over. Stewart has been in meetings and the weight room, only sitting out of practice drills.
More than anything else, Stewart’s absence is a symptom of ownership’s sickness – an unnecessary wrench in Cincinnati’s plans for success.
