Most NFL teams sign their draft picks within a few weeks of the draft. That process is usually smooth, thanks to the rookie wage scale agreed upon by the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) and the league. The scale acts like a rookie salary cap, setting limits on what teams can offer.
But that doesn’t mean a rookie has to accept the deal as-is. That’s exactly what’s happening with the Cincinnati Bengals’ 2025 first-round pick, defensive end Shemar Stewart.
Stewart and the Bengals are locked in a contract dispute over the wording in his proposed deal. Now, head coach Zac Taylor is weighing in on Stewart’s decision to hold out.
Cincinnati Bengals HC Zac Taylor Downplays Shemar Stewart Contract Standoff
The dispute has made Stewart one of just a few unsigned rookies. He’s the only one among them reportedly objecting to the offer itself.
The Bengals’ proposal includes a clause that would allow the team to void the deal if Stewart does anything they believe is detrimental to the franchise. Stewart is understandably concerned by how vague that clause is.
The language isn’t tied to any specific behavior. It gives the team wide latitude to decide what qualifies as “detrimental,” which has led Stewart to stay away from on-field work, including rookie minicamp.
Yikes: Bengals 1st-round DE Shemar Stewart has decided to stay sidelined due to a disagreement over the contract language in his rookie deal as Phase 2 of offseason workouts begins today.
The Stewart holdout continues 😳 pic.twitter.com/xkGtJQHPFo — Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 20, 2025
In a recent interview with the Bengals, Taylor addressed Stewart’s stance. While Stewart isn’t practicing, he’s staying active behind the scenes and has been present at team meetings.
“He’s in meetings, he’s studying, he’s been great about all that,” Taylor said when asked about the situation.
On social media, fans are calling Stewart’s approach a “hold-in.” That term typically refers to players under contract who refuse to practice while negotiating new terms. But Stewart hasn’t signed anything yet—technically, he’s not a Bengals employee at all. Still, his consistent presence may be a way to subtly pressure the team into adjusting the deal.
The situation is even more notable given the Bengals reached deals earlier this year with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins without including the controversial clause. It also wasn’t in the rookie contract for 2024 first-round pick Amarius Mims.
It appears the Bengals are testing out new contract language, with Stewart as the first case. From his point of view, it’s easy to see why he doesn’t want to be the one singled out.