Pittsburgh Steelers News & Rumors

T.J. Watt’s Next Contract Expected To Top Positional Market

July 3rd, 2025 at 3:35pm CST by Ben Levine

July 3: Watt doesn’t just want to reset his positional market; he wants to be the “highest-paid non-quarterback in the league,” according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via the Rich Eisen Show). That bar is currently set by Bengals wideout Ja’Marr Chase at $40.25MM per year. Watt would join fellow AFC North edge rusher Myles Garrett as the only defensive players with an APY over $40MM.

Such a contract would require a five-year deal on the Steelers’ end, per Dulac, keeping Watt in Pittsburgh through his age-36 season. The team may have some concerns about Watt’s game declining with age, but they are still willing to sign him to another long-term contract and believe they will come to an agreement before the season. Additionally, Dulac notes, the Jalen Ramsey trade has no financial bearing on the Steelers’ plans regarding Watt.

July 2: T.J. Watt‘s next contract was always expected to approach the top of his position, but it sounds like the former Defensive Player of the Year could reset the market altogether. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently stated that Watt will “probably” become the highest-paid pass rusher on his next deal.

“The Steelers, I’m sensing, are optimistic that they can reach a deal with Watt eventually,” Fowler said during a recent appearance on ESPN2 (h/t Barkley Truax of On3.com). “My sense is that he will probably be the highest-paid pass rusher in the league. When this is all said and done, he wants to be a Steeler for life. The Steelers want that. He’s a legacy type player.

“They believe at 30 years old, he still has several good years left. They’re just going to have to come up with a number and a good guarantee structure. He did miss minicamp, so Pittsburgh has a lot of work to do. But typically, Pittsburgh perks up in these things around training camp and late July.”

Watt is eyeing his third Steelers contract, and it sounds like this next pact could once again break records. Watt’s expiring four-year, $112MM contract ($80MM guaranteed) once made him the highest-paid defender in NFL history. With an average annual value around $28MM, Watt now sits seventh among edge rushers. Myles Garrett recently topped the market with a $40MM AAV; while Watt could temporarily leap the Cleveland pass rusher, impending deals for Aidan Hutchinson and Micah Parsons could quickly create a new benchmark.

Watt skipped out on mandatory minicamp as he pursued a new contract, subjecting him to more than $100K in fines. Teams reportedly reached out to the Steelers about a potential trade, although the organization has continued to express optimism that they’ll eventually agree to a new contract. Both sides are now working to wrap up negotiations by training camp, although it sounds like they continue to haggle over guarantees.

Watt’s age-30 season saw him compile 11.5 sacks and six forced fumbles, leading to him earning a second-team All-Pro nod. The Steelers are clearly confident that Watt can continue to contribute well into his 30s, but that hasn’t stopped the front office from considering some depth options. Alex Highsmith inked a four-year extension in 2023, and the team recently used a fourth-round pick on Jack Sawyer.

Nikhil Mehta contributed to this article.

TE Jonnu Smith On Dolphins Departure

July 3rd, 2025 at 9:46am CST by Adam La Rose

Coming off a career year in 2024, Jonnu Smith aimed to remain in Miami for the coming season and beyond. Talks on an extension did not produce an agreement, however, leaving a trade as a distinct possibility.

Indeed, Smith was included in the blockbuster deal which saw All-Pro defensive backs Jalen Ramsey and Minkah Fitzpatrick traded earlier this week. Smith, like Ramsey, is headed to Pittsburgh. That will allow him to reunite once again with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Nevertheless, the trade came as a surprise in Jonnu Smith’s case.

“I didn’t foresee this happening with how the season went for me individually,” the 29-year-old said during an appearance on former teammate Terron Armstead‘s podcast (video link). “I had aspirations of ending my career in Miami, with it being home for me, my children, my family. But I understand the business side of it, and it didn’t work out.”

2024 saw Smith record the most productive campaign by a tight end in Dolphins history with 884 yards and eight touchdowns. That helped his leverage in attempting to secure a raise on a new deal compared to the $4.09MM he was owed for the coming season. After a number of other offseason moves took place, though, the Dolphins made it known a new pact in line with Smith’s asking price was not forthcoming.

“We started this conversation in January with Miami and, obviously, giving me the run-around, ‘We’ll [get] back to it,’” Smith added. “I was patient with them throughout the whole entire process, and eventually it came to a point in time where they told me that they just can’t do it and they weren’t economically in a position to pay me like a Pro Bowl tight end.”

Over his first seven years in the league, Smith topped 500 receiving yards once. As a result, it is understandable the Dolphins viewed his Pro Bowl campaign in 2024 as an outlier more than an indication he would be able to duplicate that success moving forward in head coach Mike McDaniel‘s scheme. After agreeing to trade Smith to Pittsburgh, Miami took an unexpected route to find his replacement, acquiring the now-unretired Darren Waller from the Giants.

The Steelers worked out a one-year, $12MM Smith extension as part of the trade. The former third-rounder will be expected to operate as part of a productive TE tandem with Pat Freiermuth during a 2025 campaign which will feature several new faces on offense in Pittsburgh. How Smith fares in his latest NFL gig will be key in determining whether or not the Dolphins’ decision to move on was the right one.

Steelers Among Teams Interested In WR Tyler Boyd

July 1st, 2025 at 2:56pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Veteran wide receiver Tyler Boyd said over the weekend that he would “absolutely” like to sign with the Steelers, and apparently, the interest is mutual.

The Steelers have been in touch with Boyd this offseason, according to Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show, but the veteran receiver has been unsatisfied with the financial offers from Pittsburgh or any other team.

“The word on the street is that all the offers [Boyd is] getting, they’re not very good offers, as in money-wise, so he’s going to play it out,” said Kaboly during a recent episode of the Kaboly + Mack podcast. Kaboly suggested the same was true regarding whatever discussions the Steelers have had with Boyd, whether they have included a formal offer or just more general conversations about potential compensation.

There are other available receivers like Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen with better recent track records than Boyd, so he may have to wait for them to find a landing spot before another team meets his demands. He earned just under $2.4MM in Tennessee last year, per OverTheCap, for the worst full-season performance of his career with just 39 receptions for 390 yards. He also went the entire season – 16 games, eight starts, and 635 snaps – without finding the end zone, an unfortunate career-first, causing him to miss out on $2.1MM of available incentives.

Now, Boyd may have to consider a veteran minimum salary of $1.255MM with additional money available via incentives, and unlike his deal with the Titans, his next contract may not include any guaranteed money.

Dolphins Trade Jalen Ramsey To Steelers For Minkah Fitzpatrick

June 30th, 2025 at 10:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jalen Ramsey trade saga is coming to an end. The All-Pro corner is on the move, but not out west as many predicted.

The Dolphins have reached agreement with the Steelers on a Ramsey swap, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report. Pittsburgh recently emerged as the most recent team likely to be eliminated from the list of landing spots in this case, but a trade has nevertheless been worked out and is now official. Ramsey will receive a $3MM bump in pay as part of this deal.

With the Dolphins paying $7MM of the $26.6MM Ramsey was owed this season, Rapoport reports the Steelers will be responsible for the remainder of that total. Pittsburgh will thus pay him $19.6MM in 2025.

Adding an unexpected layer to this blockbuster deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is headed the other way in the swap. Fitzpatrick began his career in Miami, and the former first-rounder was dealt to the Steelers in 2019. He will now return to his original team for 2025. This represents the first time since 2002 there have been players with five or more Pro Bowl nods traded for one another (h/t Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports).

Rapoport notes the Rams and Steelers were the two main Ramsey suitors, with Los Angeles long representing the expected destination in this situation. He adds Pittsburgh was out of the running until very recently, but that has obviously changed rather quickly. Ramsey himself has confirmed that he is headed to the Steelers, which will be his fourth career team.

The three-time All-Pro spent the past two seasons in Miami, rebounding from his injury-shortened 2023 campaign to play a full slate last year. Ramsey appeared set to remain in South Beach for the foreseeable future when he agreed to a lucrative extension last offseason, but a falling out with head coach Mike McDaniel led to the mutual decision a parting of ways would be best. Ramsey was on the trade block through the spring, but the list of suitors publicly expressing interest proved to be rather short.

Rams head coach Sean McVay made it clear the team was open to a Ramsey reunion (after he helped the team win the Super Bowl in 2021). Finances were a sticking point in this case, however. The seven-time Pro Bowler has already received a $4MM roster bonus from Miami, but his outstanding $21MM-plus in compensation for the year is guaranteed. Ramsey is on the books for another three yeas after the coming campaign, but an adjustment to his pact has been expected upon arrival with an acquiring team.

Despite a limited market emerging, the Dolphins remained steadfast in their desire to move on from Ramsey. The 30-year-old has proven to be one of the league’s top corners over the course of his career, although age will become a concern during his Steelers tenure. Nonetheless, Pittsburgh’s CB depth chart now includes another standout veteran after the team added Darius Slay in free agency. Those two will join returnee Joey Porter Jr. in a secondary which will look much different in 2025.

Fitzpatrick only played 18 games during his first Dolphins tenure. Expectations were high for the former No. 11 pick, but his departure came about as part of the team’s maneuvering in advance of the 2020 draft (which brought about the selection of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa). Upon arrival in Pittsburgh, Fitzpatrick shone and earned first-team All-Pro honors. He remained productive through the following years.

However, things took an unwanted turn following the 2022 campaign (one in which Fitzpatrick recorded a league-leading six interceptions). Over the past two seasons, the Alabama product has been limited to just one pick and seven pass deflections while operating in different areas on the field. A five-time Pro Bowler, Fitzpatrick will aim to return to his previous form during his second Dolphins stint. His original team has a notable vacancy at the cornerback spot, but he will provide starting play at the safety position.

Two years remain on Fitzpatrick’s contract, and he is set to carry cap charges of $22.36MM and $24.46MM as things stand. With none of his remaining base salaries guaranteed, the Steelers will create $15.5MM in savings while generating a dead money charge of only $6.86MM. Those figures will help absorb the incoming Ramsey pact.

Pittsburgh has made a number of aggressive moves this offseason, deviating from standard operating procedure. The additions of Aaron Rodgers and D.K Metcalf were aimed at upgrading on offense, a unit which has been further augmented with today’s blockbuster. Ramsey will aim to further fuel the team’s Super Bowl aspirations for what will likely be a one-and-done Rodgers season. The Dolphins, meanwhile, will move forward in 2025 with a much different core in terms of veterans on both sides of the ball.

Steelers Acquire, Extend TE Jonnu Smith

June 30th, 2025 at 10:35pm CST by Adam La Rose

Part of the Jalen Ramsey–Minkah Fitzpatrick blockbuster will see the Dolphins and Steelers agree to another swap. Tight end Jonnu Smith is headed to Pittsburgh.

With the dust having settled on all portions of this singular trade (which is now official), here are the full details (courtesy of NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport):

Steelers receive:

Ramsey
Smith
2027 seventh-round pick

Dolphins receive:

Fitzpatrick
2027 fifth-round pick

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Smith will receive a one-year, $12MM extension upon arrival in Pittsburgh, allowing him to earn a raise as hoped. Finances were a sticking point between he and the Dolphins. Smith preferred to remain in Miami, but after enjoying a career year and setting a new franchise record for tight end production he aimed to parlay his play into a new pact.

On more than one occasion, the Steelers emerged as a potential landing spot for Smith in the event no new Dolphins pact could be worked out. Talks on a Miami extension took place, but the 29-year-old’s absence from minicamp was a sign this situation could end in a change of scenery. After only one year with the Dolphins, Smith is indeed on the move once again. Of course, today’s news means he is in store for another reunion with Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

Jonnu and Arthur Smith worked together with the Titans and again when they were alongside each other with the Falcons. The latter took on OC duties in Pittsburgh last season, overseeing an offense which used both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at quarterback. QB1 duties are now held by Aaron Rodgers, who will likely retire after this season. The Steelers are certainly not being shy in terms of notable moves on both sides of the ball in preparation for the coming campaign.

Pittsburgh already has Pat Freiermuth in place at the tight end spot. The former second-rounder is under contract through 2028, something which made a potential Smith move a somewhat awkward one. Now that it is in place, though, the Steelers can be expected to lean heavily on two-tight end sets. With uncertainly looming over the team’s WR options aside from D.K. Metcalf, Smith will give Pittsburgh a veteran pass-catching option.

The former third-rounder posted a statline of 88-884-8 last season, leading to his first career Pro Bowl nod. Expectations will be high for Smith with his fifth NFL team given his production and the fact he will be in a familiar scheme. For the Dolphins, meanwhile, Ramsey’s departure has created a notable vacancy at the CB position; the loss of Smith will likewise leave the team short on experienced tight ends.

The 2025 offseason has seen a major exodus in terms of veterans in Miami, by means of free agent departures, releases and trades. As the Dolphins look to bounce back from last year’s underwhelming campaign, they will do so with a slew of new faces on both sides of the ball. Smith is now under contract for the next two years. He will look to operate as a complementary option for Rodgers and Co. as Pittsburgh takes a run at a Super Bowl in 2025.

Steelers Receiving T.J. Watt Trade Interest; Extension Remains Goal

June 30th, 2025 at 10:12pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Steelers’ willingness to trade one star defender could inspire attempts to acquire T.J. Watt amid his contract standoff with the team.

Multiple teams have been exploring trading for Watt since he skipped Pittsburgh’s mandatory minicamp earlier this month, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who added that “sources believe outside team interest is likely to increase given today’s trade.” Schefter also noted that “Pittsburgh hasn’t shown any willingness to deal Watt so far,” and 10 minutes later, that was confirmed by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

“The Steelers have no intention of trading star pass rusher T.J. Watt and their focus remains on extending Watt’s contract, per sources,” wrote Pelissero. That aligns with virtually every other report regarding the situation, which have expressed confidence that the two sides will come to an agreement before the season.

It is easy to see why the Steelers want to hold onto Watt, who ranks second in the NFL with 30.5 sacks since 2023. All of the team’s offseason moves, especially their signing of Aaron Rodgers, indicates their intention to try to compete in 2025, but dealing Watt would be a critical blow to their pass rush.

However, the Steelers are planning to draft a quarterback early in the 2026 draft, which could be part of a broader organizational reset. The team’s success under Mike Tomlin has consistently positioned their top pick in the back half of the first round, making it difficult to acquire a top quarterback prospect. A sizable offer for Watt could draw Pittsburgh’s attention if they believe it will help them land a franchise signal-caller in 2026.

A number of edge rushers have been traded in the last few years, but none have merited a first-round pick (or equivalent value) since the Broncos dealt Bradley Chubb in 2022. The Steelers should be able to get at least as much for Watt, even considering his contract demands, based on his age and the Hall of Fame-caliber resume he has compiled. But they seem to have little desire to hear such offers until and unless they have exhausted every possible path for an extension.

Jalen Ramsey Could See Hybrid Role In Pittsburgh

June 30th, 2025 at 9:08pm CST by Ely Allen

In the aftermath of today’s headlining trade, many questions arose concerning the ramifications of the roster changes. Namely, a big one of these questions was centered around the idea of, now that the Steelers have brought in some cornerback help, how do they address the new hole at safety? The answer to that question could come in a couple different forms.

The simplest answer is the most obvious one: next man up. Earlier in the offseason, Pittsburgh signed Juan Thornhill to serve in a third safety role behind Minkah Fitzpatrick and DeShon Elliott. It was a role that Damontae Kazee filled in 2024, but Kazee was not re-signed after his contract expired. The team could just count on Thornhill, who has started 74 of 87 game appearances in his six-year career, to step up next to Elliott, but Pittsburgh may have other ideas.

Jalen Ramsey has been an outstanding outside cornerback throughout his professional career, playing about 80 percent of his NFL snaps at the position, but he’s excelled elsewhere in the past. As one of the top recruits in Florida State’s 2013 signing class, Ramsey played a big role for a true freshman as one of the school’s two starting safeties. The following year Ramsey led the Seminoles defense with most of his snaps coming in the slot. In his final collegiate season, Ramsey played most of his defensive snaps at outside cornerback.

He stayed at outside corner for most of his NFL career, starting in Jacksonville. After a move to Los Angeles, the Rams decided to start giving him some more work in the slot in his sixth NFL season. In the slot, his coverage abilities allowed him to stay with receivers on the inside, but his size allowed him to cover tight ends and stop the run. His versatile usage in college prepared him perfectly for that role, and it resulted in All-Pro honors and a Super Bowl.

ESPN’s Ben Solak speculates that a full-time move to “safety might maximize Ramsey’s remaining athleticism and football intelligence.” Mark Kaboly from The Pat McAfee Show speculates that the Steelers may see more value in Ramsey’s versatility and use him in a hybrid role that sees him playing at outside corner, nickelback, and safety. NFL Insider Josina Anderson went even further, asserting that, barring the future addition of another a true free safety, Pittsburgh could field a base defense with three cornerbacks and one safety on the field.

Where most teams’ base defense would feature two of each position with an additional cornerback coming onto the field in packages that require more defensive backs, Anderson believes that the Steelers could field a secondary with Darius Slay and Joey Porter Jr. at cornerback, Elliott at strong safety, and Ramsey at free, until they need to run with five in the secondary, in which case Ramsey would shift up into the nickel or outside cornerback role, allowing Thornhill to come in at safety. Or, perhaps, Ramsey stays at safety, and the fifth defensive back is last year’s primary nickelback, Beanie Bishop.

There are many possible solutions to this equation. Adding Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith to the roster certainly made the team better, albeit a bit older and more expensive. Pittsburgh has had a busy offseason buying several new (used) toys from Aaron Rodgers to DK Metcalf to Robert Woods to Slay and Ramsey. Now it’s up to the league’s longest-tenured head coach to make sure all his new toys play well together.

Aaron Rodgers Cites D.K. Metcalf As A Reason For Joining Steelers; FA Tyler Boyd Would Welcome Pittsbugh Deal

June 29th, 2025 at 10:19pm CST by Rory Parks

Although he may not have had much by way of realistic landing spots in 2025, new Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers still had to think highly enough of the situation in Pittsburgh to join the team and put off retirement for one more year. Having previously cited head coach Mike Tomlin as a factor in his decision, Rodgers also pointed to another new Steeler, trade acquisition D.K. Metcalf.

Rodgers, 41, said Metcalf is a “big part of the reason” he joined the Steelers (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). He went on to say Metcalf is “a really solid human being.”

The Steelers’ decision to trade former WR1 George Pickens after acquiring and extending Metcalf is in keeping with their modus operandi, as Pickens is entering his walk year, and Pittsburgh does not make a habit of rostering two wideouts on top-dollar deals. That said, the club was also wary of pairing Pickens and his history of maturity issues with the notoriously prickly Rodgers, a concern that may have helped grease the trade wheels.

By contrast, the throwing sessions that Rodgers and Metcalf had this offseason – before Rodgers officially joined the team – apparently helped sell the future Hall of Fame signal-caller on his new top target. Still, losing a talent like Pickens is a big blow to Pittsburgh’s offense, so the team is reportedly continuing to seek a veteran wideout despite having added Robert Woods in late April.

Pro Bowl stalwarts like Keenan Allen and Amari Cooper remain on the market and thus have been connected to Pittsburgh, at least speculatively. While finances are likely not a major factor in the Steelers’ calculus at this point since they have roughly $19MM in cap room, a less expensive option like Tyler Boyd may also make sense.

Boyd, 30, spent the first eight years of his career as a key part of the Bengals’ passing attack and topped 1,000 receiving yards in the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Even in his last season in Cincinnati in 2023, Boyd saw 98 targets. However, the team’s decision to use the franchise tag on Tee Higgins and the specter of a record-setting extension for Ja’Marr Chase led Boyd out of the Queen City last offseason.

The Pittsburgh native and University of Pittsburgh product was interested in joining his hometown Steelers in 2024, and the interest was reportedly mutual. But the parties could not find common ground on contract terms, so Boyd ultimately inked a one-year deal with the Titans.

As Tennessee slogged through a forgettable year with second-year passer Will Levis and veteran Mason Rudolph (now back with Pittsburgh) at the controls, Boyd put up an underwhelming stat line. Excluding the 2017 campaign, in which he appeared in just 10 games, Boyd tied or set career lows with 57 targets, 39 catches, 390 receiving yards, and a 10.0 yards-per-catch rate. He also failed to find the endzone for the first time in his career.

Of course, he had done much better with different quarterback situations, and he represents an intriguing buy-low candidate for teams in need of receiving help. For the second year in a row, he is hoping to head home to western Pennsylvania.

At this youth camp on Saturday, Boyd was asked by Pittsburgh Sports Now if he would like to sign with the Steelers.

“Absolutely,” he said (via Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports; h/t Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk). “You know, all my family is here. I’d be able to have the majority of them be able to support me.”

Like many players, Boyd has a fondness for Tomlin.

“I’m real cool with Tomlin,” he added. “He’s always been a good person. … When I was at Pitt, we had a good relationship. After practice, I’d walk over there, talk to [Antonio Brown] and those guys, talk to Tomlin, and he’d just pick at different things, where I could get better and get some guidance. I think we had a great friendship.”

There have been no public reports of interest in Boyd’s services in 2025. It remains to be seen if the Steelers will reciprocate his interest this time around.

Steelers Likely Out On CB Jalen Ramsey

June 29th, 2025 at 5:30pm CST by Ely Allen

Speculation continues as the Dolphins work to trade veteran cornerback Jalen Ramsey. In an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network claimed that he doesn’t believe Pittsburgh is a trade destination for the three-time All-Pro.

Since 2022, the Steelers secondary has been uncharacteristically average, while last year saw them become even less characteristically porous, as they finished the season having given up the eighth-most passing yards in the NFL. Safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick and DeShon Elliott are reliable veterans in the defensive backfield, but the team’s cornerbacks had a disappointing showing in 2024.

The Steelers exchanged veterans in free agency, watching Donte Jackson walk while signing Darius Slay to a one-year, $10MM deal. Slay instantly becomes the best cornerback on the roster, though at 34 years old, there’s always a chance that this is the year his effectiveness begins to dip. Slay should start across from Joey Porter Jr., who saw a bit of decline in his sophomore campaign. Porter allowed completions on nearly 63 percent of the passes in which he was the primary defender, and Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded him as the 99th-best cornerback in the league out of 116 graded players.

The next two cornerbacks on the depth chart are James Pierre and Cory Trice, who both graded out better than Porter in 2024, but neither player played in more that 16 percent of the team’s defensive snaps last year. While Beanie Bishop and Cameron Sutton are also available, they play almost exclusively in the slot for Pittsburgh. Plus, PFF wasn’t too kind to them either.

With this all in mind, it would make perfect sense for the Steelers to inquire about acquiring Ramsey, like they did with Fitzpatrick six years ago. But Rapoport made it clear to McAfee and company that that’s not a likely scenario. Instead, he continues to push the narrative that a return to the Rams makes “the most sense” for Ramsey. Rapoport posits that the money involved in this deal is the thing that has consistently been keeping it from getting done.

Pittsburgh, though, will move forward with its current group. The team will hope to see developed improvement from young impact players like Porter and Bishop, while also hoping that this year’s veteran, Slay, can help foster more success in the position room.

Contract Details: Metcalf, Chubb, Joseph

June 28th, 2025 at 12:56pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

D.K. Metcalf‘s four-year, $132MM extension with the Steelers is “really a two-year commitment,” according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano.

The 27-year-old’s deal only includes $60MM in guaranteed money, made up of a $30MM signing bonus and $30MM in guaranteed salary over the next two years, per OverTheCap. After 2026, he has no guaranteed money with his financial security instead tied to roster bonuses – $6.5MM in 2027 and $5M in 2028 and 2029 – all due on the third day of the league year. That will force the Steelers to make a decision on Metcalf’s future early in the offseason for the last three years of his deal.

The earliest potential split will be the 2027 offseason. The Steelers can release Metcalf before his roster bonus is due with just $18MM of his signing bonus prorations as dead money. As a result, Metcalf will have to produce in Pittsburgh, and he seems to know it. The star wide receiver added a smiley face to his signature on the page of his contract including the 2027 roster bonus language (and only that page), per Graziano.

Here are a few other contract updates from around the league.

Nick Chubb‘s deal with the Texans includes $1.5MM in guarantees, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, with a $575k signing bonus and $925k in guaranteed salary. The veteran running back can earn another $425k in per-game roster bonuses over the course of the season with $25k available for each appearance.
Lions safety Kerby Joseph received fully guaranteed money into the third year of his recent contract extension. $1.26MM of his 2027 salary is fully guaranteed at signing, per Graziano. The contract also includes more guaranteed money that vests early in the 2026 and 2027 league years, according to OverTheCap.
The Seahawks once again made Michael Dickson the highest-paid punter in the NFL with a base value of $16.2MM over four years, or $4.05MM per year. The deal also includes $10.2MM in guaranteed money, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson, with a maximum value of $16.7MM.

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