Overview

• Shemar Stewart signed a four-year, fully guaranteed rookie contract worth $18.97 million, including a $10.4 million signing bonus, after weeks of impasse.
• Cincinnati inserted voidable guarantee provisions that allow future guarantees to be voided under off-field conduct clauses, which Stewart agreed to in return for an early $500,000 bonus payment.
• The rookie’s holdout, which sidelined him for OTAs, mandatory minicamp and the first week of training camp, concluded on July 25, making him eligible to practice.
• The dispute spotlighted a rare challenge to traditional NFL slotted rookie deals and intensified debate over player security as teams seek more salary-cap flexibility.
• The Bengals still face a contract standoff with veteran defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who remains away from camp seeking an extension.