Bengals’ Shemar Stewart explains rookie minicamp holdout

The last time a rookie held out was in 2022 when Baltimore Ravens linebacker David Ojabo held out. Ojabo wanted more guaranteed money in the third year of his rookie deal and eventually signed a contract before the start of the 2022 NFL season. However, that situation was a tad different, as Ojabo was bouncing back from an Achilles injury and wasn’t expected to play that season anyway.

Stewart, who was the No. 17 pick overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, is viewed as an immediate impact player for the defense. Especially with Bengals star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson still negotiating an extension of his own. Reports indicate that Hendrickson could sit out until a deal is finalized.

The good news is that it’s still early in the offseason, and there is plenty of time to get a contract signed for Stewart. Some players take several weeks after the conclusion of the draft to sign a contract. But many don’t hold out of the rookie minicamp portion of the offseason. The Bengals will likely continue negotiating with Stewart and his agent until an agreement is found.

Shemar Stewart played three seasons at Texas A&M and proved to be a reliable force on the defensive line. During his final season with the program, Stewart managed to record 31 combined tackles (14 solo), 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.