49ers insider drops 3-word message as Bengals top draft pick Shemar Stewart skips rookie camp drills amid contract holdup

Shemar Stewart is supposed to be the Cincinnati Bengals' pass-rusher of the future - one who could succeed Trey Hendrickson. But he has surprisingly yet to sign a contract, and someone thinks another team may have saved itself from embarrassment.

During Friday's rookie minicamp, the 17th overall pick of last month's draft said:

“I just decided not to sign those [waiver] papers. I'm doing everything else. It’s just like on-the-field stuff I’m not doing.”

As soon as those comments hit, Sports Illustrated's San Francisco 49ers insider Grant Cohn gave this message:

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"Dodged a bullet"

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Still, not all is lost. In the same interview, Stewart said he hoped to finally sign his contract by Monday:

"I would love to be a part of the team. I hate being on the sideline just looking at everybody else do work."

He also revealed what he did during camp:

"I did some Pilates, that sucked. But other than that, I've just been working on becoming a better person, better player for my team. So when I get here, we can hit the ground running."

Also holding out was second-round linebacker Demetrius Knight.

ESPN insiders have mixed thoughts on Shemar Stewart joining Bengals

One very glaring factoid about Shemar Stewart is that he had just 4.5 sacks in college. And that is what makes his selection by the Bengals "a risky gamble" for ESPN's Jordan Reid:

"I thought the Cincinnati Bengals would pursue a more proven finisher off the edge."

But on the other hand, Jeremy Fowler likes his chances in the team should Trey Hendrickson leave as he predicts:

"At least in the short term, Shemar Stewart could assume the Hendrickson role in the defense. But I do believe the drafting of Stewart isn't totally tied to Hendrickson's situation. Cincinnati likes not only Stewart's explosiveness, but his positional flexibility at 6-foot-5 and 267 pounds."

And finally, Ben Solak has this to say:

"Stewart should get a ton of the snaps opposite Trey Hendrickson, and if Hendrickson plays for the Bengals in 2025, his gravity could create plenty of sack opportunities for Stewart on the other side."

Stewart will be wearing no. 97 for the franchise.

About the author

Andre Castillo is an NFL journalist at Sportskeeda who holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and Master’s degree in Journalism. He has over seven years of working experience and has also covered MMA with FanSided, wrestling with The Sportster, and automobiles with Hot Cars.

Andre follows the New York Jets and the Washington Commanders, mostly because he likes their colors. His favorite position is tight end, and players like Mark Andrews and Travis Kelce have always drawn Andre's attention when watching a game. Bill Belichick is his favorite coach, and his all-time favorite Super Bowl is the XLII edition, when the underdog New York Giants upset the then-undefeated New England Patriots.

If he can change one moment in NFL history, it will be from the NFC Championship Game in January 2019. In that game, a highly controversial no-call cost the Saints what would have been Drew Brees' second Super Bowl visit, where he would have faced Tom Brady and the Patriots.

Andre is always on the lookout for fresh perspectives in a story and ensures complete factual accuracy by double-checking all information before using it in his articles. He has an innate understanding of how to present information in an efficient and compelling way.

Outside the writing realm, Andre is a professional licensed teacher. His hobbies include watching UFC, MotoGP, playing the piano, and travelling.

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Edited by Andre Castillo