NFL Agent Says Bengals 'Just Don't Relent' amid Shemar Stewart, Hendrickson Rumors

Amid contract disputes with rookie pass-rusher Shemar Stewart and All-Pro pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson, the Cincinnati Bengals have reportedly gained a reputation within the NFL for being tough negotiators.

Speaking to ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, an anonymous NFL agent who has negotiated with the Bengals in the past gave their take on the organization, saying: "They are comfortable with the uncomfortable. They just don't relent."

The Bengals selected Stewart with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft after a productive collegiate career at Texas A&M. He is one of only four first-round picks who have yet to sign their rookie contract.

Stewart left the Bengals' mandatory minicamp on Thursday in the midst of a contract dispute, and it remains unclear if or when it will get sorted out.

Per ESPN's Ben Baby, the standoff is a result of the "interpretation of language in the contract that could affect guaranteed money."

The Bengals are also gridlocked with Hendrickson, who is seeking a new deal ahead of the final year of his current contract in 2025.

Hendrickson, who skipped mandatory minicamp, has made his desire for a new contract clear since last offseason. He requested a trade last offseason before ultimately re-joining the team and subsequently enjoying a career year.

The 30-year-old veteran matched his career high with 17.5 sacks last season, resulting in a second-place finish in the Defensive Player of the Year voting. He also earned his fourth straight Pro Bowl nod and his first career First Team All-Pro selection.

Despite that, Hendrickson and the Bengals still haven't found common ground on a new deal, and Hendrickson told reporters last month that he will not play for the Bengals this coming season without a new contract in tow.

Contractual stalemates are nothing new for the Bengals, as Fowler noted that they led to Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates leaving and signing with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023.

Also, the Bengals placed the franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins twice before finally working out a long-term deal this offseason.

While the Hendrickson holdout is one that could potentially spill over into the regular season, NFL teams seem to believe that Stewart and the Bengals will be able to reach a deal eventually.

Teams Fowler spoke to told him that "cooler heads usually prevail" at the start of training camp when it comes to rookie holdouts, so next month could be a realistic target for Stewart and the Bengals to end their impasse.