The Pittsburgh Steelers are focused on getting the best players from their 2023 draft class locked up under contract before they can start to think about contract extensions for their 2024 draft picks. But we can't help but think of Steelers implications when we saw the latest hefty extension in the NFL.
On Monday, the New York Jets signed guard Joe Tippmann to a four-year, $66.4 million contract extension. The deal includes $34.9 million guaranteed.
This deal instantly impacts the future market for Steelers guard Mason McCormick.
Tippmann was drafted one year ahead of McCormick, and though he hasn't earned any Pro Bowl or All-Pro honors in his first three NFL seasons, the quality guard is now raking in $16.6 million in average annual earnings—making Tippmann a top-15-paid guard in the NFL.
The parallels between Tippmann and McCormick are undeniable, and the Steelers suddenly have a sense of what they will be required to top next offseason.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will have to fork up for a Mason McCormick contract extension during the 2027 offseason
Thankfully, the Steelers won't have to worry about extending McCormick until next offseason. But when they ultimately do, a new deal won't come cheap.
Tippmann has been a very good guard in his first three seasons with the Jets, but he's not considered an elite player for his position. The 25-year-old graded out as the 30th-ranked guard in 2025 with an overall grade of 66.0, per PFF. The prior year, Tippmann notched an overall grade of 73.4.
McCormick was an older player entering his draft class in 2024 and is already 26 years old ahead of his third NFL season. Regardless, McCormick still has plenty of youth as an interior offensive lineman, and he earned a 72.9 overall grade last season from Pro Football Focus—good for 17th among all NFL guards.
Not only are McCormick and Tippmann similar in terms of grades, but they also share commonalities in terms of size and play style. Tippmann is 6'6'' and 313 pounds with an 80 3/8'' wingspan, while McCormick is currently listed at 6'5'' and 315 pounds with an impressive 81 5/8'' wingspan. Both players also have a nasty streak to their game that doesn't go unnoticed.
McCormick is a slightly older player, but his career arc is nearly identical to Tippmann's so far. It's worth noting that Tippmann has 17 career starts at center, but he's started 21 games at guard (17 at right guard), and is expected to be the right guard for the Jets moving forward. This just so happens to be the position McCormick has played for the Steelers in each of his first two seasons.
Joe Tippmann's contract extension doesn't come with egregious numbers, but it sets a clear baseline of the number the Pittsburgh Steelers will likely have to exceed to keep Mason McCormick around long-term.
Add us as a preferred source on Google