Latest news with #rookiedeal
Fox News
3 days ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Bengals end tense standoff with first-round pick Shemar Stewart with signing of his rookie deal
The war is over between Shemar Stewart and the Cincinnati Bengals. After a months-long standoff and war of words, the first-round pick finally signed his rookie deal Saturday, the team announced. Cincy selected Stewart, the defensive end out of Texas A&M, with the 17th overall pick of the draft in April, and things did get off on the right foot. The Bengals were reportedly trying to restructure the way their first-round rookie contracts are done, which would allow the team to void future guarantees. "I'm 100% right," he said of his stance about his rookie deal in June. "I'm not asking for nothing y'all (the Bengals) have never done before. But in y'all case, y'all just want to win arguments (more) than winning more games." Stewart had been attending meetings during minicamp but was not getting on the field. He did not report to training camp earlier this week, which upset Bengals executive Duke Tobin. "I think Shemar needs to be here," Tobin told reporters. "I'm not going to blame Shemar. He is listening to the advice he is paying for. I don't understand or believe or agree with the advice, but I'm not the one paying for it. If I felt we were treating him unfairly as it relates to all the other draft picks in this year's draft, then maybe it would be a different story. But we are not. I don't really understand where things are there." After the back and forth, Stewart's deal is worth $18.97 million, fully guaranteed, with a $10 million signing bonus. He became the last 2025 first-round pick to sign a deal. The Bengals missed the playoffs last year, largely due to a shoddy defense. Now, the Bengals could turn their attention to Trey Hendrickson, who led the NFL in sacks last year. However, the longtime NFL vet is also a holdout, claiming he has not heard from Bengals brass about a new deal since the draft.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shemar Stewart: Answering FAQs about Cincinnati Bengals unsigned 1st-round pick
With the Denver Broncos signing defensive back Jahdae Barron to a four-year deal on July 16, it left Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart as the lone unsigned first-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft. Time is of the essence for the Bengals and Stewart to come to an agreement on his rookie deal. Rookies are scheduled to report on July 19, and training camp begins on July 23. More: Shemar Stewart not working out with Texas A&M team, despite rumors Stewart attended voluntary workouts and was in team meetings earlier this offseason but didn't participate in any on-field activities and left mandatory minicamp early last month. Stewart can't report to training camp without a signed contract. Many have speculated Stewart's options should he and the Bengals fail to come up with a contract that would get him on the field this season. Here's a look at some of those alternatives, which range from Stewart playing in another league to holding out for the entire 2025 season. Can Shemar Stewart re-enter the NFL draft next year? Stewart could make the drastic move and shake up the NFL draft for years to come by holding out in 2025 and re-enter next April's NFL draft, which will be held in Pittsburgh. While the Bengals would like to see Stewart on the field in training camp with the regular season just around the corner, a long-term goal would be to sign the rookie by the team's early November bye week. If Stewart does not sign by the Tuesday after Week 10 (Nov. 11), he is ineligible to play in 2025. He could enter the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Bengals would be the only team that couldn't pick him, according to Pro Football Talk. Stewart would then become an undrafted free agent if he was not picked in next year's draft. Could Shemar Stewart return to Texas A&M? In a report heard around the NFL world, Bud Elliott of 247Sports claimed that Stewart had been working out at Texas A&M over the summer. The Enquirer's Kelsey Conway then reported that Stewart is using Texas A&M's facilities to prepare for the upcoming NFL season, not to workout with the current Aggies team. Could Stewart go back to Texas A&M? The back-to-college route for an NFL prospect was first brought to light when Colorado quarterback Shadeur Sanders slipped to Day 3 of the draft in April. Once a player declares for the draft, they forego their remaining years of college eligibility. If a player declares for the draft, they have three days to reverse that decision. NCAA Director of Enforcement Chris Howard explained this to NFL prospects ahead of the 2024 draft. "Student-athletes who enter the NFL Draft early are required to sign and have notarized a petition for special eligibility with the NFL, which renounces all remaining collegiate eligibility unless revoked within 72 hours of the draft declaration date." Stewart's path to returning to the SEC would be against NCAA rules, and he and his team would have to go the legal route to win that battle. Can the Bengals trade Shemar Stewart? Yes. According to Article 6, Section 4 of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, a drafted rookie who remains unsigned can be traded at least 30 days before the start of the regular season. The deadline for the Bengals to trade Stewart would be Aug. 5. After that, according to the CBA, the Bengals can't trade Stewart no matter what his contract status is. Can Shemar Stewart play in another league? Stewart can sign with another professional football league like the UFL or CFL. However, this seems like an unlikely move considering the Bengals would maintain his draft rights for three seasons if he plays for another professional team within a year after he was drafted, according to Article 6, Section 5 of the CBA. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bengals' Shemar Stewart: FAQs on unsigned 1st-round pick
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chargers will rely on Tre Harris to start as WR
Kyle Dvorchak discusses the finalized Los Angeles Chargers' rookie deal with second-round pick Tre Harris. Harris will start as wide receiver following Mike Williams' retirement.
Reuters
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Bengals rookie Shemar Stewart doesn't report to training camp, remains unsigned
July 19 - Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart did not report to training camp on Saturday with the rest of the team's rookies. The Texas A&M product remains the only first-round selection who has not agreed to a rookie deal. Stewart was the 17th pick and sat out of all offseason workouts because of a contract dispute stemming from guaranteed money. He's projected to receive a signing bonus of $10.4 million if he agrees to a contract. Rumors about Stewart returning to Texas A&M began to swirl when he was spotted working out in College Station with his former college teammates. Aggies head coach Mike Elko stated on "SportsCenter" that Stewart does not have any intention of returning to college. "In my case, I'm 100% right," Stewart said in June. "I'm not asking for anything [Cincinnati] hasn't done before. But in [the team's] case, y'all just want to win an argument instead of winning more games, in my opinion." Stewart posted 1.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, 31 combined tackles and a forced fumble in his junior season at Texas A&M. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bengals sign second-round pick Demetrius Knight Jr.
The Bengals signed second-round linebacker LB Demetrius Knight Jr. on Saturday, the team announced. His signing leaves only first-rounder Shemar Stewart unsigned. Knight received nearly 80 percent of his four-year rookie deal guaranteed, Jordan Schultz reports. It's the first time in NFL history the 49th overall pick has received guarantees in year four. Knight spent his first four collegiate seasons at Georgia Tech before playing one year at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and one at South Carolina. He played in all 13 games with 10 starts for the Gamecocks last season and totaled 82 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles. The Bengals also announced they placed tight end Erick All Jr. on the active/physically unable to perform list and placed center Seth McLaughlin on the active/non-football injury list. All, who caught 20 passes for 158 yards as a rookie, tore an ACL in Week 9 last season. He required two surgeries since it was the same ACL he tore in 2023 while still in college. He could miss the entire 2025 season. McLaughlin tore an Achilles last season while at Ohio State. He was one of the team's top free agent signings this offseason.
