Keeanu Benton and the Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $72 million, according to multiple reports. The deal, with an average annual value of $18 million, makes Benton the highest-paid defensive lineman in Steelers franchise history and keeps him in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future.
Both parties had been in negotiations for the past two months, with discussions reportedly intensifying after teammates Nick Herbig and Darnell Washington also signed four-year extensions. Benton, a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, has become a key player on the Steelers' defensive line.
In the 2025 season, Benton recorded a career-high 5½ sacks and 51 tackles while playing in all 17 games. His performance drew praise from then-Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, who noted Benton's significant increase in productivity.
"I just think there has been an increase in productivity," Tomlin said of Benton in January. "Certainly, we love activity, but productivity trumps activity, and I think he’s taken a big step this year in productivity. Five and a half sacks, coming off blocks in the run game and winning, shedding, and tackling area major component of run productivity. I think his arrow pointed up for him in just about all areas of his game, which leads to more productivity."
Despite his career year, Benton has set ambitious goals for the upcoming season, aiming for eight to 10 sacks and a greater focus on pressuring the opposing quarterback. "Me personally, I want at least eight to 10 sacks," Benton stated on “The Irish Steelers Podcast” earlier this week. "I wanna get after that passer a lot more this year."