Bengals Exec Doesn't Blame Shemar Stewart for Contract Standoff, Questions Advice

Cincinnati Bengals first-round pick Shemar Stewart didn't report with the rest of the rookies for the start of training camp on Saturday, but a team executive doesn't think the contract standoff is solely his fault.

Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin spoke to reporters on Monday and suggested that those advising Stewart are to blame for the ongoing dispute over his rookie contract.

"I don’t blame Shemar. He’s listening to the advice he’s paying for," Tobin told reporters. "I don’t understand the advice… We’re treating him fairly."

Stewart is the only first-round pick in the 2025 draft class who has yet to sign his deal. He did not participate in any offseason workouts, including the team's mandatory minicamp last month. Bengals veterans will report on Tuesday, and the team will officially start training camp on Wednesday.

As ESPN's Ben Baby explained, Stewart's holdout stems from "language that could potentially void the guaranteed money in his deal." That language wasn't included in contracts for previous Cincinnati first-round picks. Still, when asked about why it was added to Stewart's deal, Tobin told reporters that the Bengals "have the right to evolve."

Bengals owner Mike Brown added:

Stewart, who was seen working out at his alma mater Texas A&M recently, hasn't budged from his stance that his rookie contract should be fully guaranteed.

"I'm 100 percent right," Stewart said last month. "I'm not asking for nothing y'all have never done before. But in y'all case, y'all just want to win arguments (more) than winning more games."

Tobin told reporters that he's remaining hopeful that Stewart would be willing to end the impasse and show up for training camp.

"I hope Shemar comes in," Tobin said. "He needs to be here. I would encourage him to be here. He could be a factor for a championship-caliber football team. I'd like to see him and I hope he gets here soon."