3 best bargain contracts on the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021

DL Stephon Tuitt

Of Steelers players that are no longer on their rookie contracts, I believe that defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt has the best contract of all. Though he has yet to make a Pro Bowl in the NFL, most analysts believe that Tuitt is among the best interior defenders in the NFL.

This shouldn’t come as a big surprise at this point in his career. Though Tuitt has always flown under the radar, people are finally starting to take notice of just how valuable he is to this team. Tuitt is a long, powerful defender that is a pro at collapsing the pocket.

In addition to grading out as one of the better defensive linemen in the NFL over the past four years, Tuitt was also among the most productive in 2021 – collecting 11.0 sacks, 10 tackles for a loss, and 25 quarterback hits in 15 games.

Tuitt signed a five-year, $60 million contract back in 2017. Though it seemed a bit rich at the time for a player without great production, it now looks like a steal. There are currently 11 interior defenders making more in annual yearly salary, including players like D.J. Reader, Grady Jarrett, and former Steeler Javon Hargrave. Meanwhile, notable defensive linemen like Chris Jones and DeForest Bucker nearly double Tuitt in yearly salary. This is a great deal for Pittsburgh.

There are other good contracts on the Steelers roster heading into the 2021 season, but these three have all the potential to be among the best bargains in the NFL this season among veteran football players.