The Pittsburgh Steelers recently signed DL Dean Lowry to a one-year contract, and the details related to that deal have surfaced.
According to Over the Cap, Lowry signed a veteran benefit deal, one that did not include a signing bonus. However, Lowry can earn an additional $100,000 as part of his one-year contract as that is the amount of the roster bonus should he make the team’s initial 53-man roster later this summer.
Lowry is scheduled to earn a base salary of $1.3 million in 2026. His initial salary cap charge is a discounted amount of $1.075 million, per veteran benefit contract rules, as his $100,000 roster bonus is termed NLTBE (not likely to be earned). Lowry’s signing does not use up available 2026 salary cap space as his cap charge does not enter the team’s current Rule of 51.
The Steelers originally signed Lowry to a two-year, $5 million contract in April 2024. He played in 12 regular-season games in 2024 on his way to registering five total tackles, one pass defensed, and one quarterback hit in 159 defensive snaps. He was inactive for five regular-season games in 2024 in addition to the team’s lone playoff game.
Last summer, Lowry revealed that he had suffered an ACL injury during training camp and it resulted in him being placed on the Reserve/Injured list. After missing the entire 2025 regular season, Lowry became an unrestricted free agent in March.
Lowry, who was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Northwestern, has registered 271 total tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, five fumble recoveries, 18 passes defensed, and 35 quarterback hits in 132 career regular-season games.
Prior to signing with the Steelers in 2024, Lowry played one season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2023 after spending his first seven NFL seasons with the Packers.
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