The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed three of their top five extension candidates this offseason to new contracts. CB Joey Porter Jr. and DT Keeanu Benton remain the team’s two biggest remaining priorities. Benton’s market has been difficult to gauge, but the Green Bay Packers may have provided a clearer picture Monday by signing DT Devonte Wyatt to a new deal.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Wyatt and the Packers agreed to terms on a three-year, $57 million extension, including a $20 million signing bonus. It’s a nice payday for the 2022 first-round pick.
That $19 million APY figure is 15th in the league among defensive tackles if the reported figure holds. Last month, the Tennessee Titans made Jeffery Simmons the league’s highest-paid defensive tackle at roughly $35.3 million APY. As with most positional markets, defensive tackle value is beginning to explode.
Wyatt is a fine player with 16 sacks, 21 TFL, 30 QB Hits, and a forced fumble in four seasons. But he hasn’t made a Pro Bowl or All-Pro list, and his most productive season came in 2023. He was on track for a better 2025 before an injury knocked him out of seven games.
Benton had 51 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, six TFL, 12 QB Hits, a pass defensed, and a forced fumble last year across a full 17-game season. He wasn’t on pace with Wyatt, but availability is critical. Benton has been an ironman so far in his three-year career.
Benton’s value should come in comfortably below Wyatt’s, but this sets a ceiling for his potential worth. If Wyatt got $19 million APY, a fair-market value for Benton’s potential extension this offseason might be $15 or $16 million APY.
With a new defensive system that is set to play him in different positions than the first three years of his career, Benton might be wise to bet on himself. If he has another strong year and builds off last year’s 5.5 sacks, he could be worth several more million per season, likely pricing himself out of Pittsburgh.
The Steelers are also wise to wait and see how he takes to his new role, especially with Yahya Black potentially handling some nose tackle duties.
Recommended for you