The Steelers have been working hard to lock up the 2023 draft class, but will Keeanu Benton be the one who gets away? Entering his fourth season, he is due for a new contract before we reach September, though there are no guarantees. The front office’s major priority is fellow 2023 second-round draft pick, CB Joey Porter Jr.
Thus far, the Steelers have already signed OLB Nick Herbig and TE Darnell Washington to contract extensions. Even if it were not for his neck injury, Broderick Jones, as a former first-round pick, likely wouldn’t have seen an extension. While it’s not impossible that they eventually re-sign Spencer Anderson, Keeanu Benton and Joey Porter are the big fish remaining.
But how much are they willing to pay Benton now, not knowing what the future holds? What if Cam Heyward plays another two or three years, and Yahya Black ascends as a starting-quality player? Can you pay Benton starting money for two years or more while he plays rotational-level snaps? That’s at least how many seem to be thinking the snaps shape out—I tend to disagree.
“I think we’re gonna see Keeanu Benton’s best this year. I have a lot of faith. He kind of reminds me of a watered-down Stephon Tuitt”, former Steelers OL Trai Essex said on his Snap Count podcast with Charlie Batch, the previous comment meant as a compliment. “Stephon Tuitt was a beast when he was in his prime. Keeanu Benton hasn’t quite reached his level yet, but I think he’s capable of reaching that type of performance”.
“I think if he does, he’ll be rewarded with a big contract next year”, he added of Benton. “Probably somewhere else, because you drafted Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black, you’re probably not gonna pay another $20-30 million to another d-tackle. But I do like where Benton is, where he ended the year, and I’m intrigued to see what he does going into this season”.
It is, frankly, a good problem to have, and one the Steelers haven’t had in years. The 2023 class marks the first time they have signed multiple players to multi-year contracts since 2017, when they did so for T.J. Watt and Cameron Sutton. In that same class, they also let JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Conner go, the former remaining on one more one-year contract.
For the class of 2023, they already have two multi-year contract extensions under their belts, and at the very least, Joey Porter will sign one as well. Keeanu Benton very well could, too, and possibly sooner rather than later. Former Wisconsin teammate Nick Herbig certainly hopes it happens.
But it depends on how the coaches and front office view Benton’s long-term future and where he sees himself. Herbig opted not to bet on himself and remain with the Steelers. While Benton would love to stay teammates with his best friend, what if the Steelers are just not willing to offer him what he feels is his market value? Or at least, what his market value would be after a breakout season he intends to have? The defensive tackle franchise tag for 2027 is projected at $29,925,000, in case you were wondering.
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