Thu Jun 12 13:20:00 UTC 2025: **Bengals, Draft Pick Shemar Stewart at Impasse Over Contract Language**

**Cincinnati, OH** – Negotiations between the Cincinnati Bengals and their first-round draft pick, defensive end Shemar Stewart, have stalled over contract language regarding the voiding of future guarantees, raising the possibility of a protracted holdout. The Bengals are reportedly seeking to modify their standard contract language, a move Stewart’s camp is resisting.

With the regular season looming, Stewart has several options at his disposal, according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

**Trade Request:** Stewart could demand a trade, but the Bengals would need to act quickly. The window for trading unsigned draft picks closes on August 5th, 30 days before the NFL’s regular season kickoff.

**Delayed Signing:** Stewart could wait to sign until the Tuesday after Week 10 and still be eligible to play in the 2025 season. Failing to sign by that deadline would render him ineligible to play in the NFL next year, barring an “extreme hardship” ruling by an impartial arbitrator, which is not well defined in the CBA.

**2026 Re-Draft:** Stewart could refuse to sign with the Bengals until the 2026 NFL Draft. He would then re-enter the draft pool and be eligible to be selected by any team except Cincinnati.

**Return to College:** While unconventional, the CBA acknowledges that Stewart could attempt to return to college football for the upcoming season, opening the possibility of a legal battle with the NCAA over its rules. If he did return to college, the Bengals would retain his draft rights through the 2026 Draft.

**Alternative Leagues:** Stewart could also choose to play in another professional football league, such as the CFL or UFL. However, this would extend the Bengals’ rights to him for three years after the 2025 draft.

**No Draft At All:** A player could also opt out of the draft for up to two years. Should he re-enter the draft and is picked again, he could refuse to sign a contract and become an undrafted free agent after the next draft.

While these scenarios are generally considered unlikely for most teams, the Bengals have a history of being unyielding, making these potential outcomes more realistic. The key sticking point remains the contract language surrounding guaranteed money. If the Bengals and Stewart do not come to an agreement, he could re-enter the draft in 2026, play in the CFL or UFL, binding him to the Bengals through 2028.

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