Shemar Stewart ends lengthy Bengals holdout

The final NFL first-round draft pick holdout has come to an end.

Rookie Bengals edge rusher Shemar Stewart has finally signed with the organization, inking a four-year, fully guaranteed $18.97 million contract that includes a $10.4 million signing bonus, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The NFL insider reported that the No. 17 pick was holding out over issues with contractual language that could void the guaranteed money.

“I’m not asking for anything crazy,” Stewart said in May. “I’m not even asking for nothing. I just want things to be consistent. I just want consistent language as in the past contracts. I just won’t practice until I get that.”

NFL Network reported Friday that Stewart got the “improved payout” language he desired.

Earlier in the week, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that other teams likely passed on the Texas A&M product in the draft because the “production didn’t match the talent.”

Stewart recorded 65 total tackles and 4.5 sacks over three seasons in college.

Now that one Bengals contract holdout is done, the team’s attention turns to star lineman Trey Hendrickson.

There has still been no movement on those negotiations as he holds out.

He told The Athletic this week that he hopes to be back to help out Stewart.

“I was more than willing to take less in some ways in order to make a deal work to accommodate the presented needs,” Hendrickson said. I verbalized to the Bengals that I wanted to be a captain, to lead a young defense. And once rookie Shemar Stewart gets back at camp, I want to pass along the knowledge that I have, just like Cam Jordan once did for me. As I see it, Shemar and I are not competitors, we’re teammates. I’m excited to go to work with him when the time comes.”