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Shemar Stewart has reportedly departed mandatory minicamp amid his ongoing contract dispute with the Cincinnati Bengals.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter shared the news, citing sources, on Thursday morning.
Cincinnati’s unsigned first-round draft pick Shemar Stewart now has left mandatory minicamp, per source. Stewart had been attending team activities, but without a signed contract and with the Bengals asking for certain clauses, no longer. pic.twitter.com/qeo492Z6As
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 12, 2025
Mandatory minicamp began on Tuesday. Stewart had been attending team activities but not actively participating in practice. He has yet to sign his rookie contract.
Per Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the issue at hand is language in the contract that allows the Bengals to void future guarantees. Cincinnati’s last 2 first-round picks did not deal with this language in their rookie deals, and Stewart wants that to continue with his contract.
ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio recently weighed in on what could happen to Stewart if he cannot reach an agreement with the Bengals. The deadline to trade Stewart to another team is Aug. 5 (30 days before the first game of the 2025 NFL season). To play in 2025, he has until the Tuesday after Week 10 to sign. If he were not signed by Tuesday after Week 10, he would re-enter the 2026 draft class (unless he played in the UFL or CFL).
Stewart, 21, played 3 seasons at Texas A&M. He was selected by the Bengals with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Andrew Olson
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
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