Zach Frazier could be in line for a big payday next offseason. It just might be a little smaller than first thought. One of at least two Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive linemen poised for large 2027 extensions, the center market took a little extra shape Wednesday.
The Miami Dolphins inked C Aaron Brewer to a three-year, $52.5 million extension, making him the third-highest-paid pivot in the league. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, $37 million of that is guaranteed, although the true “fully” guaranteed amount isn’t known.
Center Aaron Brewer and the Miami Dolphins reached agreement today on a 3-year, $52.5 million extension that includes $37 million guaranteed. The deal makes Brewer one of the highest-paid centers in the league in a deal done by Kyle McCarthy of Athletes First. pic.twitter.com/ZQd1FWCR7T
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 10, 2026
Brewer averages $17.5 million per season. Here’s the current top three.
1. Tyler Linderbaum/Raiders – $27 million per year
2. Creed Humphrey/Chiefs – $18 million per year
3. Aaron Brewer/Dolphins – $17.5 million per year
It’s a great deal for Brewer, a former undrafted free agent who began in Tennessee and shined with Miami. In 2025, he was named second-team All-Pro and is the league’s most athletic center, known for his lead blocks as a puller in space.
Brewer’s deal signals the center market hasn’t leaped forward even after Linderbaum’s jaw-dropping deal with the Raiders this offseason. A $27 million APY amount that blew away any other of his peers. The fact that Brewer came in even under Humphrey suggests the market hasn’t changed forever, similar to how QB Deshaun Watson’s fully guaranteed deal didn’t set off a domino effect for every other quarterback contract.
That likely means Frazier won’t come close to Linderbaum’s number. Still, it’s worth examining what his future amount could be. Earlier this offseason, we estimated $22-23 million. That now feels like high-end. Getting into the $20 million range should be his goal. There are reasons to think it’ll happen. An ever-increasing salary cap naturally inflates numbers. Frazier at say, $20.5 million per year, could still wind up being a comparable percentage of the cap as Brewer’s new deal is to the Dolphins.
Frazier is also younger. He doesn’t turn 25 until August and seems likely to be extended before his 26th birthday. Brewer, for comparison, turns 29 later this year. Pittsburgh will get Frazier for all his prime years, increasing his value. Omar Khan hasn’t pinched pennies with his current extensions, either. Chris Boswell tied as the league’s highest-paid kicker. Darnell Washington easily cleared the previous high for a “blocking” tight end. Nick Herbig got major money, more than what most anticipated a deal would look like.
Frazier’s lack of hardware dings him. No All-Pros, no Pro Bowls. Those are still subjective awards, and cracking the group early in a career can be difficult. Especially with Humphrey receiving a nod basically every year. Frazier’s value and play are strong, and another good season, one that could come with a Pro Bowl inclusion, could propel Frazier into second place at $20 million-plus per year. At least, that should be his goal.
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