Stewart has several options and he could quickly turn into the Bengals' (and NFL's) worst nightmare if he decides to go with a nuclear option of re-entering the draft next year, a process that is outlined in article 6 of the CBA .

The absolute worst-case scenario (which won't happen) between the Bengals and Shemar Stewart involves the 2026 draft.

With the Bengals and first-round defensive end Shemar Stewart dug in over a misguided effort by the team to change an obscure potion of the team's boilerplate contract language without offering a corresponding concession,