Bengals first-round edge rusher Shemar Stewart has been working out at Texas A&M’s facilities, as first reported by 247 Sports’ Ben Elliott (via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnnati Enquirer).
That has stirred speculation that he could be seeking a return to his alma mater amid his rookie contract dispute with the Bengals. Conway clarified that Stewart is only using Texas A&M’s facilities on an individual basis and is not participating in any team activities. In fact, NCAA rules prevent Stewart from returning to college for the 2026 season after declaring for the 2025 draft. Instead, he is trying to stay in shape and prepare for the NFL season with the hopes of working out his contract before Week 1.
At the moment, however, the Bengals seem poised to take their standoffs with Stewart and All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson into training camp and potentially the regular season. Cincinnati has until the end of Week 11 to reach an agreement with Stewart, per Yahoo Sports’ Jason Owens. If they don’t, Stewart won’t be eligible to play at all this season.
However, the Bengals would still control his rights until next year’s draft. If they cannot sign Stewart by then, he can enter his name into the 2026 draft, and the Bengals would not be allowed to select him a second time.
It still seems unlikely that Stewart would go down that route given what he stands to lose. Spending a year away from the field would be especially damaging to a raw prospect with untapped physical potential. Sure, Stewart can continue to get stronger and faster, but the technical parts of his game that require significant improvement would be harder to address without full-team practices and games. He would also enter the draft a year older, which could potentially drop him out of the first round where his total value and guaranteed money would be significantly lower.
Bungles! Living up to their namesake.
The Bungles are like that guy in the friend group when you all go out to dinner and the check shows up acts like he “forgot” to bring his wallet as if he didn’t “forget” the previous 9 times too.
I asked a friend once what his favorite beer was. He answered ‘free beer’!
Or open bar!
Just sign him already and extend Hendrickson. They could have a Super Bowl run this year but they’re screwing it up as usual.
So at one thread there’s people posting how Watt is crazy for wanting to be paid like Myles Garrett at his age and wanting more years but the Bengals should extend a guy who is not as good. And does not play run defense much. They should give him an extension after he already signed one.
No one forced him to 2 years ago. How is his situation different than Watt and why should the Bengals do the same thing almost every poster says they should not for Watt.
Is it because the Bengals are cheap narrative not going to work for you.
If the Bengals told Hendrickson last offseason that they would take care of him this offseason if he had another strong season–and a lot of people think they did–then that’s lousy. And no matter what, they’ve let it get to this point when they could have traded him more easily earlier in the offseason and made other plans.
They could take care of him within reason factoring his age and how long he wants in years and guaranteed money. They did offer him more money but probably not as much guaranteed or years.
Because of the stupidity of Cleveland once again who wants to set crazy market numbers because no one wants to play for them if they don’t. Other teams have to pay for it as well. That’s bull. And he’s not as good as Myles anyways. One thing that team does not do is back down either. If someone had given them a number 1 they probably would have traded him. They are not just going to do it to get rid of a headache.
There’s a long, long way between Myles Garrett’s money and what Hendrickson is slated to make. He’s supposed to make several million dollars less than Rashan Gary this year. Heck, he’s making like $9 million less than Brian Burns. I’m not saying they should give him a ton of years or Myles Garrett money, but he led the league in sacks last year and it doesn’t seem like they’ve acted in good faith.
Not backing down isn’t always a virtue. They could have had Higgins locked up on much less money if they didn’t always play with their food.
They would take care of him. it wasn’t you name your price and will pay you. It will be pay you what you’re worth Jesus dude you must not work. You got a hard road ahead of you in life.
Hasn’t played a down for them and he’s already causing problems. Well on his way to a bust of a career.
Seems like they’re causing problems by offering him a worse contract than they gave their first round pick last year, even though Stewart was taken with a higher pick.
He’s not as good as the guy they took last year you gotta earn what you get and they don’t feel like he’s as good as what that pic was. He’s probably gonna ride the bench most of the year learning you must not work. You got a long road ahead of you
Why would he or his agent take a worse deal than they gave their last two first round picks, who were both taken with lower picks?
Sure, the player’s at faulf for being drafted by the cheapest team in the league.
He’s a rookie. Hasn’t made a single tackle/sack/play yet in the NFL.
They’re not the cheapest team in the league when is the last time your team went to the Super Bowl
They have the smallest front office in football and have historically spent the least on facilities, while refusing to offer competitive guarantees to free agents and alienating their own best players in contract negotiations more than any other team. They’re cheap.
Every single first round pick except the Bengals first round pick is signed. This is a franchise that refused to pay for bottled water or Gatorade in the locker room or even provide fresh unworn jock straps to players because they considered it a waste of money. Also in the past free agent players considering signing with the Bengals had to get rides from journalists from the airport to the facility because the team wouldn’t pay for transportation. You giving them the benefit of the doubt means you’re a member of the Brown family or you need your head examined.
Gonna be the defensive Jamarcus Russell
JaMarcus Russell would not be working out right now.
😂😂 very true.
Those buffett trays get heavy.
Horrible franchise to play for from all reports, but Stewart isn’t endearing himself to the rest of the league I’m sure.
Horrible franchise they got a top five quarterback, and they got to the highest paid receivers in the league and they went to the Super Bowl a couple years ago. You must do the confuse them with the Houston Texans.
Highest paid player means absolutely nothing.
Idk I think he’s got a case for a lawsuit, I think a lawyer that wants to get some PR could bring a suit against the NFL…. Something along the lines of false pretense, intent to defraud blah blah something that gets him out of his draft rights being owned by the Bungles. Seeking the full value of the contract in the lawsuit.
Get rid of the draft. That way, if Stewart doesn’t like what Cincy is offering with money/terms, he can go find a team that is offering what he’s looking for. And, likewise, the Bengals can try to sign someone to the contract they want to offer from whatever players are left after all the better players sign with teams willing to offer better terms.
Get rid of guarantees. It’s all about language now. These guys want to be secure forever….no shiz, so do ALL of us. Pandora’s box has been opened and it’ll only get worse.
Or, the NFL could move into the 21st century and ALWAYS gurantee base salaries like any reasonable league does. MLB and NHL salaries are almost entirely guaranteed – most NBA ones are to, at least to a point beyond that of the average NFL contract. Pay your players.