The Pittsburgh Steelers' offseason has been a whirlwind by any team's standards, especially so for the usually quiet organization. Big trades, splash signings, and constant rumors have been the norm for them. While the Steelers have been in the news far often than fans are used to, it's been mostly positive aside from the Aaron Rodgers drama and the continued T.J. Watt contract situation.
Their AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals, however, cannot say the same. Despite finally committing to the dynamic duo of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins with shiny new contracts, most of the news surrounding the organization has been about contract situations that have not been resolved.
There is, of course, the ongoing dispute with premier pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who understandably wants a raise after consecutive 17.5 sack seasons. That debate is more of the traditional kind of contract fight, but the bigger story of their offseason has been the issues with 2025 first-round pick Shemar Stewart.
Stewart has yet to sign his rookie contract due to a clause that Cincinnati is adamant about having in his contract. The clause, according to former NFL executive Andrew Brandt, would allow the Bengals to void guarantees in his contract if he were to get into any kind of trouble, such as a suspension or legal issue.
Stewart has remained steadfast in his decision not to sign his deal with that clause being in it, and a recent report suggests he could take extreme measures to get what he wants.
Bengals' potential loss of Shemar Stewart would be Pittsburgh Steelers' gain
According to Bud Elliott of CBS Sports on the Cover 3 podcast, Stewart has been working out at his alma mater, Texas A&M, this offseason, and he may even attempt to return to College Station to avoid signing with Cincinnati.
To be clear, that is not legal under current NCAA rules, but the rules of college football have been rapidly changing in the NIL era. Stewart could look to be the first player to challenge that rule, citing his unfair contract offer from the Bengals as reason to be allowed to return to school.
That seems highly unlikely, but he does have a path forward that is already in the NFL's rulebook. If he were not to sign his rookie deal and sit out of football entirely in 2025, he would be eligible for the 2026 NFL draft.
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That would be disastrous for the Bengals' plans in 2025 and beyond. Their defense was a massive disappointment in 2024, and they need young players like Stewart to help build it back up to help Joe Burrow and the offense. If they can't figure things out with him and Trey Hendrickson, they could be looking at a repeat of the last few seasons.
Regardless of how this all plays out, it is a terrible look for a Bengals organization that is well-known for being difficult to work with. The Steelers have had some of their own issues when it comes to spending money and being more flexible, but it's nothing compared to what is going on in Cincinnati.
Perhaps the Steelers could even end up selecting Stewart in 2026 if he does sit out in 2025, as they showed interest in him during the draft process this year. That would make the situation even more embarrassing for their AFC North rival.