Cincinnati Bengals first-round draft pick Shemar Stewart has left the team’s mandatory minicamp while he remains unsigned to his rookie contract, according to a reliable league source. This decision was made to avoid distracting his teammates during ongoing contract negotiations. Stewart was selected as the 17th overall pick from Texas A&M in the April draft.
In a candid statement made on Tuesday, Stewart expressed his thoughts on the contract situation: “I’m 100 percent right,” he said. “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.” He also noted that his teammates have largely supported his position, with some encouraging him by saying, “You’re doing the right things.”
As of now, Stewart is one of four first-round draftees who have yet to finalize their rookie contracts. Other unsigned players include Travis Hunter (No. 2 pick, Jacksonville Jaguars), Jahdae Barron (No. 20 pick, Denver Broncos), and Maxwell Hairston (No. 30 pick, Buffalo Bills). Earlier this week, Jihaad Campbell (No. 31 pick, Philadelphia Eagles) was also part of this group, but he has since signed his contract.
It’s important to note that the duration and financial terms of NFL rookie contracts are predetermined, based on each player’s draft position. This means that Stewart's negotiations are primarily about the specifics of his deal rather than the overall structure.
Bengals center Ted Karras, who serves on the NFLPA executive committee, shared his thoughts on the situation, stating, “It’s not the best-case scenario of how the spring could have gone for our first-round pick. But there is a pretty serious business aspect to our profession. He has taken counsel from his camp.” Karras emphasized that he does not believe there is any resentment among teammates regarding Stewart’s absence, adding, “I really hope both camps can figure this out because we have a really good team.”
Despite the ongoing contract issues, Karras mentioned that Stewart’s absence has not been a significant distraction for the team. “I think it has more been a distraction for the fans, mostly,” he noted. “I know Twitter is hot right now and Cincy Twitter doesn’t mess around … I think how it has played out has been probably unfortunate for both sides.”
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor also weighed in on Stewart’s situation, describing him as having a “positive” attitude. Taylor expressed confidence in the team’s ability to manage the situation effectively, stating, “We keep the team moving, and when he jumps on the field, that’ll be great for our team.” He added that the team is committed to educating all rookies about the business side of the NFL, saying, “Number one, we want to protect our team, our locker room.”
As the Bengals navigate this contract saga, they are also dealing with the absence of star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, who is not attending minicamp amid his own contract extension discussions. Hendrickson is currently in the final year of a contract extension signed in 2023, which includes one year and $16 million remaining, along with a cap hit of $18.3 million.
ESPN was the first to report on Shemar Stewart's departure from the Bengals’ minicamp, highlighting the ongoing complexities surrounding rookie contracts and player negotiations in the NFL.
(Photo of Shemar Stewart standing on the sideline at Bengals rookie minicamp: Albert Cesare / The Cincinnati Enquirer / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
