“Bengals want more stringent default language in their rookie contracts than what they had last year, with 17th pick, and are trying to impose on Shemar Stewart, the 18th pick,” Brandt tweeted on X. “Stewart and agent have good reason to fight it and not sign, for now. We will see come training camp.”

Bengals rookie Shemar Stewart’s holdout and public criticism have exposed deeper issues inside the Bengals organization.