The 2025 NFL rookie contract landscape is officially in strange territory.
Another pair of rookies, Jahdae Barron and Alfred Collins, agreed to terms on their contracts Wednesday night, further shaping this year’s rookie contract cycle.
But there’s one glaring exception standing alone: Cincinnati Bengals first-round pick Shemar Stewart.
Barron Signs, leaving Stewart alone among first-rounders
On Wednesday night, Jahdae Barron, the final unsigned first-round pick outside of Stewart, reached an agreement with the Denver Broncos on his rookie deal. Barron agreed to the same type of contract language that’s quickly becoming standard in 2025: behavior clauses, conditioning expectations, and voidable guarantees tied to off-field conduct.
Shortly after, Alfred Collins, a second-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks, also finalized his deal, as confirmed by Adam Schefter. Like Barron, Collins accepted these protections as part of his rookie contract without reported pushback.
That leaves Stewart as the lone first-round pick still unsigned. And as each day passes, it becomes harder to argue that this is a smart negotiation tactic.
Per Bleacher Report, Stewart’s delay comes down to his resistance to the same contractual language other rookies have already accepted. Players like Walter Nolen and Grey Zabel signed deals featuring these clauses with no reported issues.
Why is Stewart still waiting? It’s hard not to point a finger at his representation.
This seems less about protecting Stewart’s future and more about his agent refusing to acknowledge how fast the rookie contract landscape has shifted.
These deals are the new normal. The Bengals aren’t outliers; they’re following league-wide trends.
Stewart’s holdout may not be driven by desperation, though. During his college career at Texas A&M, Stewart reportedly banked $4 million through NIL deals. That type of money cushions any urgency.
Unlike rookies from previous years, Stewart isn’t waiting on his NFL signing bonus to stabilize his finances. He has the rare luxury of patience.
But that patience might be costing him valuable reps. Training camp is approaching fast. Other rookies are signed, sealed, and soon to be delivered to their teams.
Stewart? He’s still in limbo.
At this point, the writing’s on the wall. Stewart is fighting a battle he’s likely to lose. The rest of the league has moved on. Stewart’s camp is stuck in 2024 contract thinking, not 2025 reality. His NIL money ensures he’s not hurting, but when he finally signs, it’s going to look less like a victory and more like a wasted standoff.
