Texas A&M Aggies edge rusher and Cincinnati Bengals rookie Shemar Stewart was the talk of the NFL after holding out from rookie minicamp.

The Cincinnati Bengals used a first-round pick on edge rusher Shemar Stewart in the 2025 NFL Draft while locked in a contract

The surprising standoff between the Cincinnati Bengals and first-round pick Shemar Stewart now has more context. According to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, the Bengals came up short due to a disagreement on percentage of money paid as training camp roster bonuses:

Bengals first-round pick Shemar Stewart did not participate in on-field work during Cincinnati’s rookie minicamp on Friday because the edge rusher remains unsigned.

The Cincinnati Bengals have had a hectic offseason filled ... on their hands involving their first-round draft pick, Shemar Stewart. The Bengals used the No. 17 overall pick in the 2025 NFL ...

Former Texas A&M Aggies defensive end Shemar Stewart won't be making his on-field debut with the Cincinnati Bengals just yet. Stewart, the No. 17 overall pick

First-round pick Shemar Stewart has yet to even don a Bengals jersey ... much more baffling issue in Cincinnati. How is it that the Bengals, who have had no issue offering the world to their offensive trio—Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins ...

Cincinnati selected Stewart with the No. 17 overall pick of last month’s NFL draft. The choice made him the first Aggie pass rusher to go in the first round since Myles Garrett in 2017, largely due to his freakish athleticism and high potential to wreak havoc at the next level.

The Bengals have already signed four of their six rookies selected in this draft with Dylan Fairchild, Barrett Carter, Jalen Rivers and Tahj Brooks, and made a splash in the undrafted rookie pool as well. There is still plenty of time to finalize their contracts before the full offseason program kicks off.