While the Cincinnati Bengals have not been on the receiving end of an Eli Manning-Los Angeles (San Diego) Chargers situation, it is well-known that the team does its rookie contracts a little differently. Prior to the 2011 NFL collective bargaining agreement, Cincinnati had to deal with first-round holdouts somewhat frequently. After that, since the salaries are essentially decided based on draft capital, holdouts haven’t been as much of a worry.
However, holdouts have happened and have been resolved with plenty of time. The issue, as usual with the Bengals, is guaranteed money. It’s almost ingrained in the franchise’s DNA that it does not like to give out guarantees. It will, and it will grit its teeth through the entire process. Mike Brown, the current owner of the Bengals, is about as frugal as an NFL owner can be. Did you know the Bengals had agreed to a deal with Warren Sapp in 2004, and the
n the team pulled the offer because, in all of their wisdom, they believed Sapp was using them as leverage and that they were bidding against themselves. Sapp denies that aspect of the story, as he was fully intent on signing with the Bengals.
Despite the Bengals’ unwillingness to modernize, do not fret. These holdouts are not new. They are also nothing to stress about while the calendar still says “May.”
Much Ado About Nothing: Another Year, Another Bengals Draftee Contract Controversy
The Bengals made headlines twice on Friday. First, Zac Taylor elected to go with a one-day rookie minicamp rather than the usual three-day minicamp. “There’s a lot of nervous energy excitement when they get out here on Friday,” Taylor added. “We spend time today meeting with them and going through the installs and making sure the above-the-neck stuff is good.” Taylor has been like his mentor when it comes to taking care of players. His approach to the preseason is the subject of much ire due to the fact that the Bengals have started slow in every season except 2021.
However, the more pressing matter at hand was the absence of both of the Bengals’ top two draft picks from this year. The team announced that it had signed Dylan Fairchild, Barrett Carter, Jalen Rivers, and Tahj Brooks to their respective rookie deals. Notably missing are the signatures of first-round pick Shemar Stewart and second-round pick Demetrius Knight Jr.
When asked, Stewart was blunt, “I just decided to not sign those papers,” and that he “hates being on the sidelines looking at everyone else do work.” On the surface, it seems grim; another first-round pick is refusing to play for the Bengals due to some nonsensical contract negotiations. However, he’s not worried.
Stewart added, “What is there to negotiate? There’s nothing to negotiate.” And, of course, he’s mostly right. The rookie will end up signing a four-year, $18.9 million contract as that is the value his draft pick is allotted. With that, there will be a fifth-year option should the team decide to pick it up for the 2029 season. At the same time, Stewart noted that he does not quite know what’s going on and that he’s letting his agent take care of it all.
Knight is in the same boat as Stewart. He believes he’s, “close, very close,” to signing his rookie deal. He was seen going through mental reps and moving a little on the sidelines as the Bengals’ linebackers were working. When he signs, Knight will earn $9 million over four years.
While neither got into specifics, it can be assumed that guarantees are the sticking point. The Bengals don’t do guarantees all that often due to the fact that the team is not nearly as liquid as other owners. Signing guarantees mean they have to put that money into escrow and with so much already tied up, they get creative. The Bengals like to do almost-guarantees. They like to do easily attainable bonuses. So while the money is almost guaranteed, it’s not, and they don’t have to throw it in escrow.
Read More: 3 Bengals Draft Picks Who Could Start in Year One
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Last year, the Bengals had the same situation with Amarius Mims. The new franchise right tackle was engrossed in negotiations for months with the Bengals. His contract was always going to be four years for just over $15 million. The sticking point was likely guarantees yet again.
If fans are anxious about these two on May 10, it was significantly worse last year. Mims was expected to take over as the starting right tackle, so fans were ready for the saga to end. It finally ended on July 22, and Mims signed his deal as the final 2024 NFL Draft pick to do so.
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