The Cincinnati Bengals continue to face a complex situation with their first-round pick, Shemar Stewart. Drafted as a potential successor, or even replacement, to Trey Hendrickson, who led the NFL with 17.5 sacks in 2024, the Bengals attempted to alter the standard language in Stewart’s rookie contract.
Unfortunately, Stewart couldn’t agree to the new conditions. As a result, the rookie has missed, either completely or partially, all offseason activities, including mandatory minicamp. Now, a theory about the youngster returning to the draft next year is making the rounds, but one analyst is ready to pour cold water on those ideas.
What Did Mike Florio Say About Shemar Stewart?
After years of following standard procedure, Cincinnati tried to alter Stewart’s rookie contract. The new wording would void any guaranteed money for the edge rusher if he missed time for any reason other than an on-field injury.
It didn’t sit well with Stewart, leading to the stalemate between the rookie and the franchise. But waiting a year and entering the 2026 NFL Draft might not be a realistic possibility either, according to veteran NFL analyst Mike Florio.
Speaking on NBC’s YouTube channel, Florio answered a bunch of fan questions. He explained the biggest problem with the choice, stating, “I think it’s highly unlikely. He’d have to sit out the whole year, not play football for a whole year. Give up the signing bonus he’d made this year.”
The repercussions of that decision could be massive, as he continued, “He was drafted 17th this year. Do you really think if he returns to the draft and doesn’t play football this year, he’s going to be picked in the same spot when he’s competing with guys who did play football this year?”
Moreover, this comes with a caveat. The draft day slide for Shedeur Sanders sparked theories of collusion between teams against incoming players. Florio believes there is a chance a similar fate could follow Stewart.
Taking the rejection of a coveted draft pick as a slight, it could derail his entire career. That risk, alongside the concern of not playing for a year, might be too steep a price for the youngster to pay.
Contract Dispute Continues to Impact Bengals Defense
So far, his absence has been a major problem for the Bengals team that finished 28th in PFSN’s Defense+ metric. It directly contributed to the franchise missing the playoffs for the second straight year during Joe Burrow’s prime.
An improvement on that end is a necessity for Cincinnati to return to the postseason. Stewart is going to be a critical piece to making those dreams a reality.
It might be a convoluted situation, but the Bengals need to figure it out, even if it means bartering something in exchange to make the change in the contract.
