The Cincinnati Bengals have lastly reached an settlement with first-round decide Shemar Stewart, placing an finish to what grew to become the story of the offseason for the group. Stewart, drafted seventeenth general on this 12 months’s draft, has lastly agreed to a four-year, absolutely assured $18.97 million deal that features a $10.4 million signing bonus, in response to his agent Zac Hiller of LAA. Now with this deal completed, each first-round decide is signed.
The highway to this deal was a bumpy experience. For months, negotiations between Stewart’s camp and the Bengals entrance workplace stalled resulting from disagreements over contract language, notably round ensures. The group pushed to incorporate contract language that would void the deal underneath sure off-field circumstances, however since different Bengals first-round picks didn’t face related phrases, Stewart stood agency and refused to signal. Each side remained agency all through the offseason, resulting in a protracted standoff and plenty of experiences of frustration from either side.
Regardless of the frustration and disagreement, the Bengals and Stewart’s group continued to interact in conversations, looking for a decision to the problem. And at last, after weeks of backwards and forwards and weeks of controversy surrounding what Stewart could also be pressured to do, each events seem to have met within the center and located frequent floor.
For the Bengals, getting Stewart signed and prepared for coaching camp is a significant win. Stewart was considered as a developmental prospect who wanted loads of on-field reps to succeed in his full potential. Stewart’s absence from earlier camps had slowed plenty of his progress. With the contract dispute resolved, he can now focus completely on gaining necessary reps and persevering with his growth over the approaching weeks.
Now with this contract completed and over with, the group can put their full concentrate on Trey Hendrickson, who can also be in search of a long run deal. If the Bengals can get a deal completed with Trey earlier than the season kicks off, they might safe their edge-rushing room for not solely 2025, however for years past.
For a group seeking to go all in on making the playoffs, signing Stewart was lengthy overdue. Now it is going to be important for the group to get Stewart in control with the remainder of the roster, and permit him to get as many reps as doable earlier than the 2025 season begins.
