After signing Nick Herbig and Darnell Washington to massive contract extensions, the Pittsburgh Steelers do not appear to be finished yet. Other members of their 2023 NFL Draft class are also due for new deals. Most notably, Joey Porter Jr. and Keeanu Benton are both waiting for contract extensions, and each could place a significant strain on the team's future salary cap.
According to Spotrac's website, Keeanu Benton's projected market value currently sits at a four-year deal worth $103.81 million.
That is an enormous number to consider giving Benton at this stage of his career. While he is still young and has shown flashes of potential along the defensive line, he has not done enough to justify that kind of contract yet. It could add another layer of difficulty to negotiations between Benton and the Steelers.
This projection should be taken with a grain of salt, but it should not be completely dismissed either. Finding young defensive linemen who can strengthen the trenches is never easy, and the Steelers would prefer to keep Benton in Pittsburgh for the long term. At the same time, signing him to an extension worth that kind of money would be concerning.
Pittsburgh Steelers contract extension with Keeanu Benton could be worth over $103 million
Keeping Keeanu Benton with the Pittsburgh Steelers is something the organization would likely love to accomplish through a contract extension. However, when looking at the comparable contracts Spotrac used for its projection, the situation becomes even more concerning.
Benton's projected value is being compared to players such as Milton Williams, Jordan Davis, and Dexter Lawrence, which highlights just how expensive an extension could become.
No offense to Benton or his representatives, but he is not currently on the same level as the three players Spotrac used for comparison. The Steelers' young defensive tackle has shown flashes of becoming a highly impactful player, but he has not yet put everything together consistently. If he can improve his production as a pass rusher, then comparisons to players could become reasonable.
Pittsburgh may be wise to re-sign Keeanu Benton before the season begins in case he puts together a breakout campaign. The Steelers are desperate for one of their young defensive linemen to emerge and help ease the pressure on veteran Cam Heyward. Benton is clearly one of the players the organization is counting on to take a major step forward this year.
Offering him a contract extension now would be a gamble, but it could end up paying off in a big way over the long term.
No one should expect Benton to sign a massive contract extension anywhere near the numbers Spotrac projected. Instead, the more realistic expectation is a deal that still makes Benton very wealthy, but not at the level of players like Dexter Lawrence and others. Benton is a solid young player with plenty of potential, but making him one of the highest-paid players at his position would be bad.
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