Bengals Defensive End Signs at Last: What This Means for the Team
Things took a turn for the better for the Bengals this past week. One out of two Bengals team members is finally through and was able to come to a contract deal with the team. Rookie Shemar Stewart agreed to terms on a contract as of Friday. The contract that was signed was a fully guaranteed four-year contract. It’s worth 18.97 million dollars and includes a $10.4 million signing bonus. He is the last first-round rookie to sign his contract and was causing a full distraction to the team during training camps, but now he will be able to participate in everything that the team has coming up for the rest of the season. There will be certain areas that will be full of change, and now that he is here, team dynamics are going to begin changing.
There has been an immediate boost to the defensive line unit. Cincinnati has gained all rookie and veteran pass rushers, despite Trey Hendrickson still sitting out because the team cannot come to terms on a contract with him quite yet, if not at all. Stewart has brought in elite physical traits and offers much upside to the team. He is explosive, and he adds a developmental piece that the defense has been lacking for the last few years. The Bengals will not be able to put together how they want their defensive line to look for this coming season.
Having Stewart finally on the roster with a signed contract gives the Bengals some kind of identity officially. They will be able to execute defensive schemes as needed. It will be a learning experience for everyone, and it is going to probably take the rest of the Bengals' training camp for them to figure it out before the preseason starts in just a few short weeks. The players will also have their roles down and not have to worry about where they need to fit onto the defensive line. They can learn the combinations correctly, which will sharpen the execution and build the Bengals' chemistry.
Cincinnati will also have to hand out and split more reps between players and allow Stewart to step in. It may have hurt him more than helped when it came to sitting back and coming to terms on a contract with the team. It intensifies the starting role competition a little bit more. It will help Joseph Ossai or Raymond Johnson reduce overuse injuries for this upcoming season while they are covering for him. It’s going to keep everyone on edge.
Overall, Stewart finally being under contract can finally move the Cincinnati Bengals ahead and pivot the Bengals into a more football-ready football season. His arrival adds a lot of high-ceiling potential to the defensive line in search of pass-rush impact. However, with much lost time, there may be a struggle to get him where they want him to be. There is also a chance that he may be able to jump in without any issues at all. Now that they have gotten him situated, there may be a chance they can get Hendrickson back to practice before the season starts.
