The Cincinnati Bengals and rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart agreed to a four-year, fully guaranteed $18.97 million contract Friday, per multiple reports.
Stewart, drafted 17th overall out of Texas A&M, was the final first-round selection that remained unsigned. Most first-round picks signed their rookie contracts in May or June, but Stewart and the Bengals faced an impasse stemming from contract language that could void his future guaranteed money.
Per Pro Football Talk, the 21-year-old accepted the language in exchange for a $500,000 increase to his signing bonus, which now sits at $10.4 million.
The signing ends a saga that included rumors of Stewart returning to college and a holdout that Bengals president Mike Brown deemed “foolishness.”
Cleveland Browns second-round running back Quinshon Judkins is now the only rookie yet to sign his rookie contract.
Stewart enters his first year with high expectations, given the productivity of the Bengals’ offense and how disappointing their defense was last season. Cincinnati averaged 27.8 points per game, sixth-most in the league, but allowed 25.5 points per contest, eighth-worst.
They won their last five games but finished 9-8 and fell short of the playoffs. Furthermore, one of their defense’s key pieces remains unsigned.
Cincinnati’s contract negotiations with fellow defensive end Trey Hendrickson, the league-leader in sacks last year at 17.5, are at a standstill. The Bengals already invested heavily in wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins this offseason, tightening their remaining cap space.
–Field Level Media
