The NFL is a business, and players strive to be compensated as they feel is appropriate. We are accustomed to seeing star players in need of a new contract step away from practice, training camp, and minicamp until they secure a deal they want.
Fans saw this come to a head when former star running back Le’Veon Bell sat out the entire 2018 season due to a contract dispute with the Steelers. The Bengals are well-acquainted with contract disputes, as defensive end Trey Hendrickson is due a new contract and has been absent from the team during summer workouts. But he isn’t the only one.
Cincinnati is dealing with a rare rookie holdout as first-round pick Shemar Stewart is holding out due to a contract dispute. Here is more on Stewart’s holdout with the Bengals.
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Why is Shemar Stewart holding out?
Stewart is one of the few first-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft who hasn’t signed his rookie contract. Travis Hunter is probably the biggest name who remains unsigned, but the difference is that he is participating in OTAs and mandatory minicamp.
Stewart left Cincinnati’s mandatory minicamp on Thursday, June 12, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Leading up to that point, he had attended activities without participating, but the unsigned rookie exited early without resolving his situation.
Cincinnati’s unsigned first-round draft pick Shemar Stewart now has left mandatory minicamp, per source. Stewart had been attending team activities, but without a signed contract and with the Bengals asking for certain clauses, no longer. pic.twitter.com/qeo492Z6As
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 12, 2025
Stewart said when mandatory minicamp began on Tuesday that he would not take the field until his contract situation is resolved.
#Bengals rookie Shemar Stewart spoke today and it’s safe to say things are not in a great place:
“We all agree Trey (Hendrickson) will be alright. But technically he’s still 1% wrong for being under contract. In my case, I’m 100% right.”
(📹 @Trags)
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) June 10, 2025
Initially, Stewart did not participate in on-field reps, but still attended meetings. Stewart said the following about his situation and what he is doing to stay ready.
“It’s very important. You’ve got to get your body somewhat prepared to play football, especially me coming from college to the NFL. It’s a way more physical game, even though I played in the SEC, which is very physical, but nothing compares to actually playing in the NFL. I thought I’d be on the field by now, that’s what I thought.
I still go to meetings, take down the right notes.”
Stewart and his side don’t even sound like they are worried about the amount of the contract, especially since the draft slot has a predetermined cap. The side is concerned about specific language in the deal and how it could harm the defensive end in a few years. According to Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the problem lies with “language in the contract for their first-round pick that allows the team to void future guarantees.”
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Shemar Stewart agent
Stewart’s agent is Zachary Hiller, who works for LAA Sports.
The NFLPA website shows that he currently has seven negotiated NFL contracts. He was the agent who helped Dalvin Cook get his extension in Minnesota, as well as handled the rookie contract for running back JK Dobbins. Hiller represents Ravens WR Zay Flowers, Dolphins defender Cam Smith, and Bills running back James Cook, who is going through his own contract dispute.
Shemar Stewart contract
Stewart was drafted with the 17th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. That slot had a pre-determined salary cap of $18,942,634. Stewart and his agent aren’t disputing the numbers that he is due, but more in the exact language of the contract that they are claiming is different than what they have done with past contracts.
“I’m not asking for nothing y’all have never done before. But in y’all case, y’all just want to win arguments [more] than winning more games.”
Cincinnati’s first-round pick last year Amarius Mims didn’t sign with Cincinnati until July 22, so there shouldn’t be too much concern at this point.
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