Shemar Stewart’s NFL future in turmoil as Cincinnati Bengals contract dispute fuels Texas A&M comeback rumors

Shemar Stewart was supposed to be the Cincinnati Bengals’ prized rookie this fall. Instead, he’s back in College Station, sweating it out at Texas A&M workouts while his NFL future hangs by a thread.

Selected 17th overall in April’s NFL Draft, the defensive lineman now faces a high-stakes contract dispute that has left him with two risky options: negotiate with a team that currently holds all the power or fight for the legal right to play college football again. With millions in earnings and an entire year of development on the line, Stewart’s next move could shape the rest of his career—and everyone’s watching to see what happens next.

Why Shemar Stewart’s Texas A&M workouts could derail his Cincinnati Bengals NFL rookie deal

While Shemar Stewart has yet to sign with the Bengals, this summer he’s been spotted working out with the Texas A&M football team. His presence in College Station has surprised many in the NFL and college football worlds, raising questions about NCAA eligibility rules and the leverage he actually has.Cover 3 podcast host Bud Elliott shared details about where and when these workouts have been happening, and who tipped him off about Stewart’s involvement.

“He’s been at College Station. He’s been fully involved in workouts,” Elliott said on the show. He added, “A guy who has had some good (Texas) A&M stuff in the past, he hit me, he's like, 'Hey, Shemar might end up back here.'”

Stewart’s contract standoff with the Bengals centers on default language in his rookie deal, a typical but often contentious part of NFL Draft negotiations. The Bengals selected him 17th overall in April, but no deal has been finalized, leaving him in limbo as training camps approach.

Despite the tension, neither Stewart’s camp nor the Bengals have issued any new public statements updating the situation, deepening the uncertainty around when—or even if—a resolution will come.

The legal battle that could define Shemar Stewart’s Cincinnati Bengals and Texas A&M football future

Even if Stewart hopes to suit up again for Texas A&M, that path is anything but simple. NCAA rules don’t currently allow him to play this season unless he wins a legal fight to restore his eligibility—a move that could trigger a lengthy court battle.Elliott underlined that uncertainty when he said on the podcast, “It may not be legal yet, but everything in the NCAA ecosphere is subject to litigation.”But there’s another catch: even if he did get a waiver to play for Texas A&M, the Bengals would still hold his NFL Draft rights. The only way Stewart can force his way back into next year’s draft and break from Cincinnati’s control would be to sit out football entirely this fall.

That means missing an entire season of development—and risking millions in future earnings.For now, Stewart remains caught in a contractual maze that few rookies navigate successfully. He’s kept himself in top shape with his old team in College Station, but whether he’ll actually see the field for the Aggies—or the Bengals—any time soon is anyone’s guess.

What’s next for Shemar Stewart as Cincinnati Bengals contract talks stall and Texas A&M return looms

Shemar Stewart’s rookie journey is shaping up to be one of the NFL Draft’s most dramatic stories. Instead of preparing for his first pro training camp, he’s back at Texas A&M, clashing with Cincinnati over a contract stalemate that threatens to derail his career. With legal hurdles, NCAA eligibility rules, and his draft rights all in play, Stewart faces a defining choice: fight in court for a college return, compromise with the Bengals, or sit out and re-enter the draft next spring.What do you think? Should Stewart push for Texas A&M, hold out for the NFL, or find a way to settle with Cincinnati? Share your take below and join the debate.Also Read: Kansas City Chiefs show out as Patrick Mahomes leads star-studded support for unbeaten current