Shemar Stewart and the Bengals Reach an Agreement
Player Shemar Stewart and the Bengals have reached a contractual agreement for his rookie season, according to his agent, Zac Hiller. The fully guaranteed agreement is for four years and is worth $18.97 million, including a $10.4 million signing bonus. Stewart, selected in the first round of this year’s draft, joins the Bengals six days after the team’s rookies reported to training camp. This agreement ends a situation that began shortly after Cincinnati selected the Texas A&M player. The negotiation focused on the inclusion of clauses that could invalidate the financial guarantees of the contract. Stewart will receive a more favorable payment structure than other players selected at the 17th position, accepting the new wording that the Bengals included in the rookie contracts. The controversy over the contract cancellation clauses was a key point in the negotiations. Team president Mike Brown explained that these clauses would apply in cases of serious misconduct warranting sanctions. The director of player personnel, Duke Tobin, mentioned that the Bengals were one of the last teams to include these types of clauses in rookie contracts.The other five players selected by Cincinnati in the draft signed their contracts in time for the start of the team’s first practice. Demetrius Knight, the second-round pick, finalized his agreement the previous Saturday.
Stewart wasn’t the first player to delay his incorporation due to contractual disputes. In 2018, Roquan Smith missed several weeks of training due to a similar situation with the Chicago Bears. During preseason training, Stewart did not sign the team’s participation waiver while negotiating a deal. According to sources, he was offered a lower camp bonus than Amarius Mims, despite being selected in a higher position in the 2024 draft. The Bengals still have a pending contractual situation. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson has not reported to camp as he seeks a new contract. Hendrickson is in the final year of his current contract and has a salary of $16 million after an All-Pro season.
