The Cincinnati Bengals have their biggest contractual problem with a superstar as they are reportedly resuming talks with Trey Hendrickson. But that isn’t the only contract issue they have with a pass rusher.
Shemar Stewart, taken at slot No. 17 overall in the recent NFL Draft out of Texas A&M, is exercising an unusual holdout for a rookie, sitting out all offseason workouts … because the team is doing something unusual.
Stewart and agent Zac Hiller are refusing to agree with the team’s contractual language regarding any “what if” occurrence.
Some think that before he ever lines up for an official NFL snap – before he even hits the practice field – he could be traded.
No team has failed to sign their first-round pick before trading them, making this scenario one without much previous context if it comes to fruition.
The latest as of now? Hiller is going public and ripping Cincy for its approach.
“Contracts are based on precedent,” the agent said (hat-tip here via SiriusXM.) So, when Shemar has never asked for anything more or less protective than any of his teammates, it’s a simple fix. It’s just say, ‘Hey, this is the precedent. Let’s keep the precedent.’
“It’s essentially that when a player signs his contract and it’s guaranteed, it should be completely, fully guaranteed. Obviously, if there’s certain circumstances that happen, the team should be able to void. However, again, if you want to make changes to your precedent, it should be a negotiation. It should be give and take.
“It shouldn’t just be, ‘Hey, we’re changing this and sign this or go scratch.”
“Go scratch,” essentially meaning, “Go to hell.”
In all likelihood, Cincinnati will try to resolve the contract dispute and retain their rookie defensive end, but each passing day allows for more rumors to circulate about a potential trade. … and about more disgruntlement from all involved
Is a trade really possible?
According to the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, the team has until 30 days before the first game of the regular season to trade an unsigned draft pick. This year, the first game is a Thursday bout between Dallas and Philadelphia on Sept. 4.
That makes August 5 the deadline for a Stewart trade.
After that point, he cannot be traded at all this season, whether he signs or not.
If Stewart decides to sign sometime during the regular season, he has until the Tuesday after Week 10 to make his contract official and be eligible to play the rest of the season.
A third option would see Stewart hold out the entire regular season, and choose to wait until the 2026 Draft begins, where he would be eligible to re-enter the pool of prospects. He could be drafted by any team other than the Bengals – if they would even want him at that point, anyway.
Stewart profiles as a player with untapped potential. He didn’t blow away stat-keepers during his college career, but his 6-5, 290-pound athletic frame earned him the right to be drafted … but to this point, not to get a standard contract offer from the Bengals team that picked him.
