Steelers extend DL Keeanu Benton with 4-year, $72M deal

The Pittsburgh Steelers extended defensive lineman Keeanu Benton with a 4-year, $72 million deal late Friday night, according to reports. Benton's rookie contract concludes after this year. This four-year extension runs from 2027-30. The $18 million annual value makes him the highest-paid defensive lineman in team history. At 6-foot-4 and 309 pounds, Benton played in all 17 games during the 2025 season and totaled 51 tackles, including six stops for loss of yardage and 5 1/2 sacks. He was one of the team's two second-round picks during the 2023 draft out of Wisconsin. Benton, 25, supplied 12 quarterback hits in 2025. He added 36 tackles and one sack during each of his first two seasons in 2023 and 2024. Benton also played nose guard in the 3-4, but will likely play a lot of end. Benton is listed as a backup behind Cameron Heyward on the depth chart at defensive end in the Steelers' 3-4 scheme. Heyward, 37, is signed through 2027. Benton is the third member of the Steelers' draft class in 2023 to receive an extension this offseason, joining tight end Darnell Washington (third round) and outside linebacker Nick Herbig (fourth).