The Cincinnati Bengals have had a tough time signing their 2025 NFL draft picks this offseason, but they’re finally one step closer to finishing that off.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Bengals have agreed to a deal with second-round pick and linebacker Demetrius Knight.
Schultz adds that Knight’s contract is almost 80 percent fully guaranteed and marks the first time in NFL history that a No. 49 overall pick has guaranteed money in the fourth year of their deal.
The agreement comes on the same day that Bengals rookies are reporting to training camp.
Now, all that’s left is Shemar Stewart, the team’s first-round pick. So, what’s the hold-up?
Well, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway, the Bengals want language in his contract that allows them to void future guarantees.
In addition, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the Bengals are essentially asking Stewart to “take a pay decrease from where last year’s No. 17 pick, Dallas Turner, in Minnesota got with certain bonuses.”
“Usually those numbers go up every year, as far as like the percentage guarantee his, to my understanding, was going down,” Fowler added. “So that’s problematic and that’s something he’s not willing to accept, but we’ll see what training camp pressure applies. Sometimes that can change minds a little bit.”
Stewart has already missed a ton of practice time this offseason, and unless either side budges soon, he’s going to miss more practice time at training camp.
That’s terrible news because the Bengals desperately need Stewart to be ready to contribute immediately, especially if the Trey Hendrickson contract situation does not improve and he winds up getting traded.
