Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Keeanu Benton is coming off a breakout season and is due a big contract extension, which we at Steelers Wire will attempt to predict.
When looking at the current market for interior defensive linemen, which skyrocketed after Jeffrey Simmons’ three-year, $105.8 million extension with the Tennessee Titans, Benton could see anywhere from $19 million to $24 million per year on a new deal. But the number could climb even higher when taking into account his Spotrac-estimated average annual value of $25.95 million.
If Pittsburgh manages to sign Benton to a new deal, we predict it could be a three-year deal worth $75 million — an average value of $25 million, which should get the job done.
Benton, who was selected by the Steelers in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, has appeared in 51 games and made 40 starts since entering the league. He’s recorded 123 combined tackles, nine tackles for loss, 28 quarterback hits, 7.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles with Pittsburgh.
While the Steelers may be hesitant to hand out another massive extension after spending big on Nick Herbig and Darnell Washington, Benton has the potential to become one of the cornerstones of Pittsburgh’s defensive line for years to come, which is especially important if Cameron Heyward considers retiring anytime soon.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers contract prediction: Keeanu Benton lands big extension
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