PITTSBURGH —Defensive tackle Keeanu Benton is entering the final season of his rookie contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2026, but the Wisconsin product said he's not worried about what the future holds.
Benton, and the rest of the Steelers' 2023 NFL Draft class, are entering an offseason when the team would typically engage with players about contract extensions.
The Steelers have several such players, with a successful draft class yielding a half-dozen regulars that are currently in need of a new deal: Benton, Broderick Jones, Joey Porter Jr. , Darnell Washington, Nick Herbig and Spencer Anderson have all had or project to have significant roles with the team.
Sometimes, a player on an expiring contract can signify contract drama between the player and the club in the offseason, but that doesn't seem to be the case when it comes to Benton.
"Not really," he said to Steelers Now after practice on Thursday when asked if he's thinking about his contract situation. "I'm just here trying to come out here, get ready and learn that playbook."
The Steelers have traditionally done most of their contract-extension business later in the summer, but they've already been active this offseason, reaching deals with veterans Cam Heyward and Chris Boswell on new deals early this year.
That could be because of the bumper crop of extension candidates that is coming up for Omar Khan to deal with later this summer. Benton is set to earn $1.75 million this season, and is due a substantial raise when he does get a new contract.
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Keeanu Benton at practice on Oct. 14, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Travis Jones of the Baltimore Ravens , who was a third-round pick in 2022, played in 49 games and made 18 starts in his first three years with the club, recording 102 tackles, 3.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss and 11 quarterback hits. Jones signed a three-year, $40.5 million contract extension with the Ravens last year.
In three seasons with the Steelers, Benton has played in 51 games, made 40 starts and has recorded 123 tackles, 7.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss and 28 quarterback hits. With the salary cap going up another 8% in the interim, Benton should easily clear Jones' deal on a contract extension, and could earn more than $15 million per year on a new deal.
But for now, he's not sweating his contract, and is simply focused on trying to perform his best in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers DT Keeanu Benton Not Sweating Expiring Contract
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