Top 5 NFL Contract Blunders of 2025: Why Shemar Stewart’s Bengals Standoff is #1000subscriber

Top 5 NFL Contract Blunders of 2025: Why Shemar Stewart’s Bengals Standoff is #1000subscriber

Top five NFL contract blunders of 2025. Why Shamar Stewart’s Bengals standoff is number one. # # Shama Stewart’s position among the most significant contract missteps of the 2025 NFL offseason. Shamar Stewart EP photo/JFR Robersonson Christopher Nox July 21st 2025. As of Wednesday, every one of the 32 NFL teams will have kicked off their training camps for veteran players. However, one notable firstround rookie, Shama Stewart, a defensive lineman for the Cincinnati Bengals, remains without a contract. On Monday, Duke Tobin, the Bengals director of player personnel, pointed fingers at the 21-year-old’s agents for the ongoing contract stemmate. I don’t blame Shama. He’s following the advice he’s paying for, Tobin expressed to the media. I just don’t comprehend the advice. We are treating him fairly. The crux of the issue lies in the Bengals desire to incorporate void language into the contract. Something that has not been a standard part of their first round contracts in the past. The Bengals can only hold themselves accountable for failing to secure Stewart’s contract as training camp approaches. Their rigid stance and inability to finalize a deal based on a predetermined draft slot value represent a significant oversight. So, how does this situation rank among the most glaring contract errors of the 2025 offseason? Let’s delve into it. # #5 Titans commit $20.5 million annually to Dan Mo Jr. Some poor contract choices stem from failing to sign players altogether. However, this particular blunder involves the Tennessee Titans and their decision to allocate $82 million over four years to offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. This move was labeled the worst of the offseason by Bleacher reports Gary Davenport back in May. The issue is that Mo has not demonstrated any capability over four years in the league to justify being a $20 million tackle. He noted at 26 years old, Mo was merely an adequate starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers before entering free agency. Last season, he was accountable for five penalties and allowed 12 sacks, according to Pro Football Focus. Nevertheless, Mo finds himself at the bottom of this list because in isolation, signing him made sense. Tennessee was aware they would be using the number one overall pick on quarterback Cam Ward and required a new starting left tackle. The free agent market was limited and struggling teams often overpay for veteran talent. However, this does not imply that this was a wise contract, especially after discovering that Laramie Tansel was available for trade. The Houston Texans traded the five-time Pro Bowler to the Washington Commanders. It appears the Titans were essentially bidding against themselves. #4 Jets delay signing Sarnner until July. New York Jets cornerback S Garner seemed to experience a slight decline in performance during his third NFL season with pro football focus ranking him 46 among cornerbacks. Nevertheless, the Cincinnati native appeared destined for a lucrative early contract extension ever since he was named defensive rookie of the year in 2022. At just 24 years old, he was also a first team OPRO in both of his initial seasons. Eventually, the Jets did secure Garner’s significant second contract, signing him to a 4-year 120.4 million extension on July 15th. This deal makes him the highest paid cornerback in NFL history based on annual value. Given his performance in 2024, which was good but not elite, one might question whether he will leave up to this hefty contract. However, it is undeniable that New York should have acted sooner to sign him earlier in the offse. Even considering a slight regression in 2024, Garner has proven himself deserving of a long-term deal. The Jets likely could have saved a substantial amount of money by finalizing the contract in the spring. In early March, the Carolina Panthers made JC Horn the highest paid cornerback in the league with a deal worth $25 million annually. The market was further elevated later that month when the Texans signed Derek Stingley Jr. to a contract worth $30 million per year. Given the nature of contract negotiations, the Jets had little choice but to exceed Stingley’s deal when extending Gardner. Previously, Patrick Certain two held the top spot in the market with a contract worth $24 million annually. Had New York signed Garner at the beginning of the offseason, they might have secured him for a deal in the 25 to26 million range. Waiting proved to be a misstep even if the team gained more financial flexibility after the postjun one cuts of Aaron Rogers and CJ Mosley. # #tree Cincinnati’s contract standoff with Trey Hendrickson. Not every contract standoff that could lead to a training camp holdout should be viewed as a blunder. For instance, the commanders have yet to extend wide receiver Terry McLuren, which has created some public tension. However, McLuren is approaching 30 and is not expected to command a top tier contract. Washington needs to secure him, but they shouldn’t be significantly affected by extensions like Garrett Wilson’s 4year 130 million deal. On the other hand, the Bengals have likely seen the price tag for Trey Hendrickson rise considerably in recent months. Although he is 30, he is also the reigning sex leader in the NFL. While he may not expect to top the Ashrussa market, he certainly deserves a raise from the $21 million he is set to earn. This race might not have been as significant before the Bengals observe Max Crosby, Danielle Hunter, Miles Garrett, and TJ Watt resetting the market. What now leads with a deal worth $41 million. According to NFL media’s Ian Raapot, the Bengals have made several offers, including a recent one to Hendrickson. They may still manage to extend him and get him into camp, but they likely could have done so for millions less had they acted months ago. # #2 Saints signed Chase Young to a $17 million per year contract. In comparison to the contracts of players like Garrett and Watt, Chase Young’s tria, $51 million extension seems reasonable. However, it was surprising to see him receive such a deal this off seasonason after another season that was good but not exceptional. To clarify, Young has not had a season that could be classified as great since he was named defensive rookie of the year in 2019. He recorded 7.5 sacks that season, a total he matched in 2023 while playing for both the Commanders and the San Francisco 49ers. In the past season, Young participated in 17 games with the New Orleans Saints, finishing with 5.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss. What makes this a questionable decision by New Orleans is their cap situation. The Saints entered free agency with several pressing needs and a cap deficit. Although quarterback Derek Carr had not yet retired, New Orleans was under a new head coach, Kellen Moore, and was approaching a rebuilding phase. Given Young’s injury history and the state of the franchise, extending him represented an unnecessary risk. Now, the Saints did gain some cap relief with car’s post draft retirement, leaving them with $22.3 million in cap space. However, they are also facing the prospect of starting rookie quarterback Tyler Shaw and could benefit from investing more in his supporting cast. Wide receiver Chris Olvi is also eligible for an extension. At just 26 years old, Young still has the potential to evolve into a reliable starter, but New Orleans would have been wiser to allocate their funds elsewhere. #1 The Bengals blame game with Shama Stewart. Cincinnati’s misguided approach with Stewart is far more problematic than their standoff with Hendrickson. The latter is an aging but still effective veteran, and the Bengals must strike a balance between compensating him for his past contributions and what he can offer in the future. Stewart, on the other hand, is a rookie who is limited to earning a fixed amount due to the NFL’s rookie wage scale. The Bengals wish to include language that would allow them to void future guarantees under certain conditions, language that has not been part of previous contracts. Stuart and his representatives are not accepting this. I believe he is firm on the language. ESPN’s Adam Shfter mentioned on the Rothman and Ice podcast. He doesn’t want to be the first one to set a precedent and be made an example of meanwhile the Bengals have attempted to portray Stuart’s agent said Hiller as the unreasonable party. His Bengals owners bowl stands on Shama Stewart’s contract. NFL news update in a shocking display of Kender. Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown laid bear the team’s reasoning behind their contentious contract dispute with first round pick Shamar Stewart. With his 90th birthday just around the corner, Brown proved that H is just a number as he remains firmly at the helm of the organization. During the team’s local media day, Brown broke his silence on the Steuart saga and his words were nothing short of explosive. At the heart of the dispute lies a fundamental disagreement over the language in Stuart’s rookie contract. With the financials already settled, a 4year $18,969,276 deal. The crux of the issue revolves around the guarantees. Stuart and his agent, Zack Hiller, are pushing for a fully guaranteed contract, which would entitle the young player to the full 18.97 million regardless of any potential missteps. The Bengals, on the other hand, want to include provisions that would allow them to void some of these guarantees in the event of an NFL policy breach or a run-in with the law. Brown’s stance on the matter is unequivocal. We are not paying someone to sit in jail. In a refreshingly blunt statement, the Bengals owner drove home the point that his team will not be held hostage by a contract that doesn’t account for potential wrongdoing. His agent wants it to be so that if he acted in a terrible fashion, “This is all hypothetical, something that rises to the level of going to prison that we would be on the line for the guarantees for the future years that haven’t been paid,” Brown explained. And our position is no. If that happens, we are not going to be we are not going to be paying someone who’s sitting in jail. That’s not what we are going to do. Brown’s words are likely to ruffle a few feathers, particularly in the Steuart camp. By drawing a line in the sand, the Bengals owner has made it clear that his team will not be budging on the contract language. This means that Stuart and his agent will have to decide whether to accept the team’s terms or race prolonging the standoff. As the drama unfolds, one thing is certain. The Bengals are not afraid to take a stand. But is their stance reasonable or are they being too hanosed? Should teams be able to void guarantees in the event of player misconduct or does this set a worrying precedent? The debate is sure to rage on with no clear end in sight. One thing’s for sure though, Mike Brown’s unflinching honesty has ignited a firestorm that will continue to burn until the dispute is resolved. Bengals president Mike Brown on Shamar Stewart contract. Foolishness, ESPN. A shocking contract stalemate reveals the NFL’s hidden power struggle and one rookie dollar minions hang in the balance. Cincinnati Bengals president Mike Brown made headlines Monday with a blistering critique of stalled negotiations with firstround draft pick Shama Stewart, calling the delay absolute foolishness at the team’s annual media event. Stewart, the number 17 overall selection and the NFL’s last unsigned firstrounder, remains in limbo over a contentious clause about conduct violations, sparking a high stakes showdown that exposes the fine print controlling athletes careers. Here’s the twist. The Bengals won language allowing them to void guaranteed money if Stuart engages in conduct detrimental to the team. While common leaguewide, the Bengals were actually late adopters, Stuart’s camp refuses to accept it. This isn’t just legally, it’s a battle over financial security versus team protection. We’ve never had this issue before, Brown emphasized, framing the standoff as unnecessary. But here’s what most fans miss. This clause could cost Stuart millions for anything from legal trouble to social media controversies. Bengals executive Duke Tobin added fuel to the fire, suggesting Stuart’s advisers, not the player, are driving the resistance. He’s listening to advice he’s paying for, Tobin said, thinly veiling frustration with negotiators. But Stuart’s agents at Hiller fired back. Duke Tobin hasn’t even been involved. This public spat reveals a bitter behindthe-scenes rift. Meanwhile, second round pick Demetrius Knight Jr. signed a nearly identical contract Sunday. So, why the double standard? Sources confirmed the Bengals offered Knight participation waiverss to practice during negotiations, a courtesy never extended to Stewart. This strategic snub suggests Cincinnati is playing hard ball with their top draft asset. And here’s where it gets controversial. Should teams have unilateral power to void guarantees over vague conduct issues? Critics argue these clauses disproportionately penalize young players while teams insist they’re essential for accountability. Stuart’s gamble, skipping training camp to protest, could backfire spectacularly if he’s labeled difficult before his first snap. The drama extends beyond rookies. Four-time Pro Bowl DE Trey Hendrickson also seeks a long-term deal with Brown cautiously optimistic. We are working to get Trey signed, but with veterans reporting Tuesday, Cincinnati re the locker room divided between paid stars and a hold out rookie. Final question to fans. Is this a principled stand for player rights or a rookie misreading his leverage in a system stacked against him? Share your take below. Should Stuart hold out for cleaner contract language or does Cincinnati’s track record with players justify their stance?

00:00 – Top 5 NFL Contract Blunders of 2025: Why Shemar Stewart’s Bengals Standoff is #horrormovies 10:07 – Bengals Owner’s Bold Stance on Shemar Stewart’s Contract | NFL News Update
13:01 – Bengals President Mike Brown on Shemar Stewart Contract: ‘Foolishness’ – ESPN

1. Top 5 NFL Contract Blunders of 2025: Why Shemar Stewart’s Bengals Standoff is #horrormovies
Breaking down the biggest NFL contract mistakes of the 2025 offseason, with Shemar Stewart’s ongoing dispute with the Cincinnati Bengals taking the top spot.

In this video, we analyze why the Bengals’ contract standoff with first-round rookie Shemar Stewart is considered the worst contract blunder of the 2025 NFL offseason. The Bengals want to include void language that hasn’t previously been in their first-round contracts, creating an unnecessary dispute over predetermined rookie contract values.

We also cover other major contract mistakes:
– The Saints signing Chase Young to a $17M per year deal despite cap issues
– Cincinnati’s standoff with sack leader Trey Hendrickson
– The Jets waiting until July to sign Sauce Gardner, costing them millions
– The Titans overpaying Dan Moore Jr. at $20.5M annually

Learn why these decisions may hurt these teams’ prospects for the upcoming season and the financial implications of each mistake. We’ll examine how these contract disputes impact team chemistry, player development, and on-field performance.

Why do the Bengals continue to struggle with contract negotiations? Is void language in rookie contracts becoming more common? How will Stewart’s development be affected by missing training camp? We answer these questions and more.

2. Bengals Owner’s Bold Stance on Shemar Stewart’s Contract | NFL News Update

Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown, at nearly 90 years old, remains a decisive figure in the organization. In a rare media appearance, Brown addressed the ongoing contract dispute with first-round pick Shemar Stewart. The contention isn’t about the amount – Stewart’s four-year deal is set at $18.97 million – but rather the contract language. Brown is adamant that the Bengals should not be obligated to pay guarantees if Stewart violates NFL policies or engages in criminal activity. This video delves into the details of the dispute, Brown’s candid remarks, and the implications for both Stewart and the Bengals. We also explore the potential outcomes of this standoff and what it means for future rookie contracts in the NFL. Stay tuned for an in-depth analysis and predictions on when this drama might finally come to an end.

3. Bengals President Mike Brown on Shemar Stewart Contract: ‘Foolishness’ – ESPN

Cincinnati Bengals team president Mike Brown expresses frustration over the contract negotiations with unsigned rookie Shemar Stewart. The dispute centers around a clause regarding potential conduct detrimental to the team, which could void guaranteed money. Stewart, the 17th overall pick in the draft, remains unsigned.

Brown calls the situation ‘foolishness’ and believes the contract should be finalized. Stewart has not participated in any workouts since being drafted. Bengals executive Duke Tobin and Stewart’s agent Zac Hiller share differing views on the negotiations.

Additionally, there is optimism about signing defensive end Trey Hendrickson to a long-term deal. Stay tuned for updates on the Bengals’ contract situations.