BREAKING: Bengals Ink Second-Rounder Demetrius Knight Jr. to Four-Year Deal While Shemar Stewart Remains Lone Unsigned First-Rounder

The Cincinnati Bengals have officially taken care of business with one of their most promising defensive additions from the 2025 NFL Draft, signing second-round linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. to a four-year rookie deal, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The contract includes nearly 80% of the total value fully guaranteed at signing, a notable figure for a second-round pick and a clear sign of how highly the Bengals view Knight’s future in the Queen City.

Knight’s signing brings further clarity to Cincinnati’s 2025 draft class ahead of training camp. The 6-foot-2, 233-pound linebacker out of UCF quickly emerged as a fan favorite during the pre-draft process with his speed, football IQ, and aggressive tackling style. He’s expected to compete for immediate playing time in a linebacker group that includes veterans like Germaine Pratt and Logan Wilson.

Knight’s contract, while standard in length for a rookie, raises eyebrows due to the size of the guarantee. Nearly 80% of his deal is locked in from the outset—an uncommon percentage for a Day 2 draft pick. This not only signals the Bengals’ belief in Knight’s potential but also reflects the shifting landscape of rookie deals, particularly for high-value non-first-rounders. NFL contracts have slowly evolved as agents and players push for more upfront guarantees in exchange for potentially less back-end money.

Cincinnati’s front office, led by Duke Tobin, has largely avoided rookie holdouts in recent years. Knight’s early agreement continues that trend—however, the situation with their first-round pick, Shemar Stewart, tells a different story.

While Knight has already signed on the dotted line and is ready to report for duty, Stewart remains the only unsigned first-round pick from the 2025 class, creating growing concern among Bengals fans and NFL observers alike.

Stewart, a dominant defensive end out of Miami who starred at Texas A&M, was selected No. 24 overall in April’s draft and was expected to be a cornerstone of the Bengals’ pass rush for years to come. But with just days until veterans and rookies report to camp, Stewart remains absent and unsigned, raising questions about what exactly is holding up the deal.

Per league insiders, the primary sticking point appears to be the structure of Stewart’s guaranteed money and potential offset language. While first-round picks generally receive fully guaranteed contracts, how and when those guarantees vest—particularly in the third and fourth years—can lead to prolonged negotiations. Offset language, which would allow a team to recoup money if the player is released and signs elsewhere, is another common battleground.

The Bengals, historically cautious with first-round contracts, have shown a willingness to hold the line on these negotiations. They encountered a similar issue in 2021 with wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, though that situation was resolved well before camp. In Stewart’s case, both sides are reportedly entrenched, with Stewart’s camp pushing for a fully clean guarantee with no offset terms, and the Bengals hesitant to budge.

Still, the contrast in tone between Knight’s swift agreement and Stewart’s delay is striking. Knight’s deal was completed with minimal fanfare and no signs of acrimony, a testament to both his representation and the Bengals’ front office. The team prioritized securing Knight early, not just because of his potential but also due to the critical nature of his position. Cincinnati’s linebacker depth has been tested over the past few seasons, and Knight’s versatility—capable of playing both inside and outside—makes him an ideal candidate to contribute early, even on special teams.

At UCF, Knight was a tackling machine, racking up 107 total stops, 12 tackles for loss, and four sacks in his final season. He impressed scouts with his range and ability to read plays pre-snap. While not the most physically imposing linebacker in the draft, his sideline-to-sideline speed and cerebral approach drew comparisons to New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis.

Knight also offers intangible value. A two-time team captain and graduate transfer who began his college career at Georgia Tech before transferring to UCF, he has been praised for his leadership, accountability, and ability to adapt in different defensive schemes. The Bengals believe those traits will allow him to quickly integrate into Lou Anarumo’s complex defense, which demands communication and flexibility from its linebackers.

His signing also sends a message to the locker room—Cincinnati rewards players who handle business professionally and show up ready to work. It’s no coincidence that the Bengals finalized the deal with Knight just as rookies began trickling into camp.

Still, the cloud surrounding Stewart’s absence looms large. Defensive end remains a position of need for the Bengals, who lost Sam Hubbard for parts of last season and are searching for long-term replacements. Stewart, with his combination of size (6-foot-6, 275 pounds), explosiveness, and college production, was drafted specifically to address that need. He recorded 9.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss in his final year at Texas A&M, showcasing the kind of disruptive potential that made him a consensus first-rounder.

And yet, as of this writing, he is the last rookie from the first round who has yet to come to terms with his team.

Internally, the Bengals have remained tight-lipped about Stewart’s situation, offering only boilerplate statements about “ongoing negotiations.” Externally, however, fans are beginning to get restless. Social media has been flooded with calls for the team to “get it done,” while others are siding with Stewart, arguing that he deserves full protection as a top-tier edge rusher in a league where guaranteed contracts are still rare.

The situation has shades of previous holdouts around the league. In 2019, then-Jets pick Quinnen Williams briefly held out over contract language before ultimately agreeing to terms. In 2023, Bears tackle Darnell Wright sat out two days before finalizing a deal. In most cases, these issues are resolved before they impact meaningful practice time—but with Stewart already missing rookie onboarding, it’s clear his absence is beginning to have consequences.

Knight’s presence, while welcome, cannot offset what Stewart’s absence represents: a potential distraction heading into camp and a delay in developing a young pass rusher the Bengals hoped could contribute from day one. Stewart’s edge-setting ability and explosiveness off the line were major parts of Anarumo’s defensive planning for 2025.

Veteran Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai are expected to lead the edge group, but neither is a long-term certainty in Cincinnati. Stewart was drafted as a potential foundational piece—a rare blend of traits with Pro Bowl upside. His delayed arrival hampers that development timeline and could open the door for others to leapfrog him on the depth chart.

Still, optimism remains that the two sides will reach a deal in time. Sources close to the negotiation believe a breakthrough could happen before the first full-pads practice later this month. But each passing day without Stewart on the field adds pressure to the front office—and gives Knight and other rookies more opportunity to shine.

As it stands, Demetrius Knight Jr. enters camp with momentum, a secure future, and a clear role on a defense that is looking to return to elite form. Shemar Stewart, on the other hand, remains the lone 2025 first-round holdout, casting a shadow over what should otherwise be a seamless start to the Bengals’ most anticipated season in years.

The Bengals now find themselves in a familiar place—caught between securing the future and protecting precedent. As they celebrate the arrival of Knight, they’re still waiting for Stewart to walk through that door.