The Cincinnati Bengals are finally getting a key rookie signed. No, not that one. Almost equally as important, linebacker Demetrius Knight was the latest second-round pick to come to terms after nearly the entire round of picks was holding out. It turns out, Knight’s deal is historic.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz broke the news on X.
“The Bengals and 2nd-round LB Demetrius Knight Jr. have agreed to a 4-year rookie deal with nearly 80 percent fully guaranteed at signing,” Schultz posted Saturday. “It’s the first time in NFL history that the 49th pick has had guarantees in year four. With Cincinnati’s rookies reporting to camp today, the standout LB out of South Carolina is now officially under contract and ready to go.”
Knight can now participate in training camp, which begins July 23rd.
The Bengals’ overly zealous social media team confirmed the signing with a bombastic and emphatic post filled with fireworks on X: “We have signed our second round draft pick LB Demetrius Knight Jr,” the team wrote.
It wouldn’t surprise any Bengals fans if they found out that Katie Blackburn wrote that herself.
The Bengals still have major defensive issues even if Knight is good
The Bengals had the 25th-ranked defense in the entire NFL last year. The only player that actually contributed at a high level was defensive end Trey Hendrickson. We all know by now that he had 17.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons and led the NFL in 2024.
Well, it may come as a shock to find out that the 30-year old is holding out for more money. It’s true, right now he’s set to make about $16 million and that is so far under market value it’s not even funny. He’s much more in the $35 million-per-year range of guys like Houston Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter and Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby.
In short, the Bengals defense is bad, Hendrickson is underpaid and they need him if that side of the ball is going to remotely do their part to see that Joe Burrow‘s career isn’t wasted.
Now to get Shemar Stewart signed
This is the big one. This is the big problem. First-round picks are paid based on a slotting system, so length and money are pretty much predetermined by your draft position. So, unless a team is going to get cute with the contract language, it shouldn’t be too difficult to get a deal done.
Enter the Bengals. Shemar Stewart is the last first-round pick to sign…again. John Breech of CBS Sports explains this maddening situation.
“By now, you’ve probably heard about all the drama here,” Breech writes. “Things are getting contentious between Shemar Stewart and the Bengals. The team threw a curveball in their contract negotiations with him by adding new language to his deal that the Bengals didn’t use with their past two first-round picks. Stewart doesn’t want the language in there, the Bengals do, and now, the two sides are in a stalemate. Stewart skipped all of OTAs and although he showed up, he didn’t practice at mandatory minicamp. If we don’t see one side blink soon, it’s pretty much a guarantee that Stewart will hold out.
“For the second straight year, there are 31 first-round draft picks signed by July 16, and for the second-straight year, the Bengals are the one team that has yet to get their first-rounder under contract.”
This kind of thing goes back to 2001, when Justin Smith was drafted No. 4 and was the last first-round pick to sign that year. What about 2009 and offensive tackle Andre Smith? He signed the second-to-last day of August.
Another day, another contract problem in Cincinnati. But, getting Knight signed is a good first step because this defense can’t afford to take on more water.
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