The Cincinnati Bengals’ offseason has been defined by the drama surrounding contract disputes with two edge rushers: All-Pro veteran Trey Hendrickson and rookie Shemar Stewart.

After this week, Bengals can finally breathe a sigh of relief as one of those disagreements was resolved, and the other could be on a similar track.

Shemar Stewart signs

Shemar Stewart was selected 17th overall in the 2025 draft. On Friday, he signed his rookie contract and has since joined his teammates for the first time in training camp. The former Texas A&M Aggie’s journey to signing was fraught with tension. As of last week, Stewart remained the only 2025 first-rounder still unsigned. His holdout concerned added language in his contract that could potentially void future guarantees based on off-field issues. It felt like a minor point of contention, yet it was one where both sides were committed to digging their heels in.

While this type of language is common in the NFL, some believed it was unfair to Stewart, especially since the Bengals’ 2024 first-round pick, Amarius Mims, did not have similar stipulations in his contract. Eventually, both sides reached an agreement that included an upfront payment of $500,000 of Stewart’s signing bonus, effectively ending his holdout.

Just in: Shemar Stewart and the Cincinnati Bengals reached agreement on a four-year, fully guaranteed $18.97 million contract that includes a $10.4 million signing bonus, per his agent Zac Hiller of LAA.

Every 2025 first-round pick now has a deal. pic.twitter.com/LU3vRJEl9v

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 25, 2025

Reflecting on the situation, Stewart expressed relief at being back on the field and emphasized there are “no hard feelings” toward himself and the organization. “I just needed to be on the field as soon as possible,” he said. His comments resonated with Bengals fans who are eager to see the promising rookie prove his worth after being selected 17th overall. Longtime Cincinnati fans may remember the holdout of former Bengals tackle Andre Smith. Smith held out of training camp for 30 days after being drafted sixth overall in 2009. After signing, he never quite lived up to expectations. The pressure is now on Stewart to convert this new beginning into tangible success on the field.

Trey Hendrickson ends holdout

Meanwhile, Cincy fans’ attention is still on Trey Hendrickson. Henderson has also held out of camp seeking a new deal with the team. The All-Pro edge rusher has recorded 47 sacks in his last four seasons, including back-to-back 17.5 sack campaigns. Most fans agree that Hendrickson is a key figure the already inconsistent Bengals defense can’t afford to lose.

His return to practice has been welcomed, even though he still seeks a contract extension. Dressed in Bengals gear and actively participating in team meetings, Hendrickson reflected on the importance of having open lines of communication while also reiterating his objective of negotiating a better deal. “I’m excited to be here,” Hendrickson optimistically stated Tuesday.

Trey Hendrickson arrives at Bengals camp

Holdout over. Hold-in begins. pic.twitter.com/qIJboIonYN

— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) July 30, 2025

It appears as though the two sides have made progress towards securing an extension. Recent comments by Hendrickson and Bengals president Mike Brown shed significant hope on the situation.

“There are plans on not having to play on the current deal,” Hendrickson said in front of his locker Friday. “That’s something we have a common goal to get to. That’s the plan moving forward. No distractions. I am excited to be here.” Brown is also optimistic that a deal will get done and that Hendrickson is deserving of a raise.

Going forward

With both defensive ends now in the fold, head coach Zac Taylor is eager to get Stewart acclimated quickly, while also keeping an eye on Hendrickson’s situation. Speaking on Stewart Taylor said, “It’s good to get him now when we can, because we haven’t put pads on. He’s got seven practices before our first preseason game.”

As the Bengals look ahead to the start of the season, the organization is hopeful that this resolution will lead to successful individual performances—especially from Stewart—as well as team cohesion. The drama surrounding contracts may have created distractions, but hopefully, they will not contribute to another slow start for the team that has failed to make the playoffs the past two seasons.