Grok: The Cincinnati Bengals structure their rookie contract offsets differently from most NFL teams by attempting to include clauses that allow them to void guarantees under specific conditions, such as revoking guaranteed money for players on rookie contracts, which deviates from the league standard where first-round contracts are typically fully guaranteed without such contingencies. This year, their first-round pick, Shemar Stewart (selected 17th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft), hasn’t signed his contract due to this issue, as the Bengals are reportedly pushing for language that could reduce their financial obligation if Stewart is released and signs elsewhere, a practice less common across the league where teams generally accept full guarantees without offsets for top picks. Posts on X indicate sentiment that the Bengals’ front office is trying to set a precedent by altering standard rookie contract language, potentially to gain more flexibility, which has led to delays as Stewart and his representatives resist these terms, preferring the more player-friendly offset structures seenlisten to the podcast episode titled “The Bengals and the NFL Draft” for more insights into their draft strategy.