Keeanu Benton Extension: Steelers Make DT Highest-Paid D-Lineman in Franchise History With $72M Deal

The Pittsburgh Steelers locked up the anchor of their defensive line Friday night, agreeing to a four-year, $72 million extension with defensive tackle Keeanu Benton, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The $18 million average annual value makes Benton the highest-paid defensive lineman in franchise history, matching the per-year mark set by veteran Cam Heyward.

Benton was set to play out the final season of his rookie contract in 2026 for a modest $1.75 million before the two sides came to terms. The new deal, negotiated by agent Joe DiBenedetto of 1of1 Football, ties the 25-year-old to Pittsburgh through the 2030 season and removes any lingering uncertainty about the interior of a defense that has become the identity of this Steelers team.

From Rotational Piece to Franchise Cornerstone

Pittsburgh selected Benton in the second round, 49th overall, out of Wisconsin in the 2023 draft. He was a productive but unspectacular presence early on, logging 36 tackles and a single sack in each of his first two professional seasons while working his way up the depth chart. The breakout came in 2025, when Benton started all 17 games and posted career highs across the board: 51 tackles, including 25 solo stops, 5.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a pass defensed. For a nose tackle tasked with occupying blockers and freeing up linebackers rather than piling up highlight numbers, that kind of jump in sack production stood out around the league.

Benton’s guaranteed-money history has also been notable. He became one of the rare players at his draft slot to land guaranteed salary in the third year of a rookie contract, a sign the Steelers valued him well before this week’s extension talks. Across three NFL seasons, he has totaled 123 tackles, 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, nine passes defensed and an interception — a broad statistical footprint for a player whose primary job is clogging running lanes.

What the Extension Means for Pittsburgh’s Betting Markets

The timing matters. Benton’s deal lands just as sportsbooks are settling into their 2026 season numbers for Pittsburgh, and locking down a core defensive piece before Week 1 is exactly the type of roster-stability news that oddsmakers and bettors alike weigh when evaluating a team’s floor. As of early-to-mid August, the Steelers’ win total sits at 8.5, with the Over priced near +110 and the Under near -130 at major books — numbers that reflect a roster still viewed with some skepticism given the offseason quarterback transition. Pittsburgh is currently priced at +510 to win the AFC North, +2300 to win the AFC and +5000 to win the Super Bowl.

None of those markets are likely to see dramatic movement off a single defensive lineman’s contract, but the underlying logic for bettors is straightforward: a defense that can consistently generate interior pressure and stuff the run helps keep games close and win totals achievable even when an offense is still finding its footing. Benton, alongside Heyward and the rest of Pittsburgh’s front seven, is central to that formula. For bettors tracking the Steelers’ win total or division odds throughout the season, his extension is a signal that the front office views the defensive line as a strength worth paying for long-term rather than a unit in transition — which should factor into how sharp bettors weigh Pittsburgh’s under-the-radar floor against a market number that has remained stuck around 8.5 wins for much of the summer.