Steelers update: Keeanu Benton secures historic $72 million contract extension originally published on ClutchPoints. Choose ClutchPoints as a Favored Source by clicking right here.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been actively handing out new contracts to several of their key starting players.
In May, kicker Chris Boswell inked a four-year deal worth $28 million. Edge rusher Nick Herbig secured a $100 million contract extension in the beginning of June. Tight end Darnell Washington was next, agreeing to a $42 million extension. Meanwhile, wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. penned a three-year, $59 million deal.
Now, defensive tackle Keeanu Benton is the latest player to receive an extension, according to ESPN’s Ian Rapoport. On Friday, Benton set a new milestone by agreeing to a historic four-year contract extension valued at $72 million, Rapoport reports. Averaging $18 million annually, this agreement positions Benton as the highest-compensated defensive tackle in the history of the Steelers franchise.
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The contract negotiations were handled by agent Joe DiBenedetto representing 1of1 Football Agency.
Within his position, Benton has developed into an explosive disruptor on the interior line rather than functioning as a standard run-stopping nose tackle. This style of play has proven to be highly successful. Over the past season, Benton registered 51 tackles while maintaining an average of 5.5 sacks. Additionally, he tallied 12 tackles for loss or quarterback hits in 2025. He was also on the field for 64% of the Steelers’ defensive plays.
This is not the first time Benton has set a milestone since being selected by Pittsburgh in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Just months after being drafted, he signed his initial $7.3 million rookie deal, making history as the first 49th overall pick to secure fully guaranteed salary in the third year of a rookie agreement.
To date, Benton’s career statistics include 123 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and a single interception.
Back in March, fellow defensive tackle Cam Heyward committed to a two-year extension worth $32.25 million, equating to $18 million annually. This deal briefly established him as the highest-paid defensive tackle in team history, a record that Benton surpassed just a few months later.
