So far, it has been somewhat easy to wave off the contract standoff between the Cincinnati Bengals and first-round pick Shemar Stewart.

The dispute between edge rusher Shemar Stewart and the Bengals isn't over money. Under the rookie wage scale that was implemented by the 2011 NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, Stewart's fully guaranteed four-year contract as the 2025's 17th overall pick should be worth $18,969,276, which includes a $10,435,836 signing bonus.

Shemar Stewart is not going to play for Texas A&M during the 2025 college football season, but the Cincinnati Bengals' first-round pick has reportedly at least thought about it.