Cincinnati Bengals agree to four-year contract with defensive end Shemar Stewart

Shemar Stewart has finally signed a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals ahead of the 2025 season.
Shemar Stewart has finally signed a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals ahead of the 2025 season.STACY REVERE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
Defensive end Shemar Stewart has agreed to a four-year, fully guaranteed $18.97 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday, according to his agent.

Stewart was the Bengals' first round draft pick in 2025, being selected 17th overall. Playing his college football at Texas A&M, the 21-year-old will gear up for his first NFL season in Cincinnati.

The defensive end was the last first-round selection in the 2025 draft yet to be sign a contract yet. This came as a result of a standstill between him and the Bengals involving his contract.

In the end, both parties came to an agreement as Stewart received a $500,000 increase to his signing bonus in exchange for contract language that the former Aggie could void future guaranteed money.

There is much talk on the youngster, who posted a time of 4.59 seconds in the 40-meter dash during the combine.

The Bengals finished 9-8 in the 2024 season, narrowly missing out on the playoffs despite ending the year on a five-game winning streak. They are one team who is expected to seriously challenge for a postseason berth in 2025.