Steelers’ Extension Plans Shift to Keeanu Benton After Deals for Core Veterans

The Pittsburgh Steelers are approaching this offseason like a checklist, and defensive tackle Keeanu Benton’s name is still in the running for a long-term resolution, even if a formal agreement has not surfaced publicly. According to Steelers insider Mark Kaboly, the team completed extension business for kicker Chris Boswell, pass rusher Nick Herbig, and tight end Darnell Washington, then set its attention on cornerback Joey Porter Jr. before circling back to Benton. As of June 4, the Steelers’ official transactions log shows those three extensions and does not list a Benton deal yet, leaving his status in the “next up” category rather than a confirmed conclusion.

Benton’s path to this point reflects how Pittsburgh is valuing both development and immediate impact on the defensive interior. Coming out of Wisconsin as a third-round selection, Benton saw his workload rise early in his rookie season after an injury to veteran defensive tackle Cameron Heyward. That opener pushed Benton into a larger rotation role, and when Heyward returned, Benton had already established himself enough to work into a starting spot. The Steelers now appear prepared to reward a player who is still in the early stage of his career trajectory, but who has shown signs of becoming a consistent disruption piece rather than a situational option.

Pro Football Rumors’ recap of Benton’s recent production underscores why the Steelers would want to lock him in sooner rather than later. It describes a steady climb across the first two seasons, including eight pass breakups over two years and an interception in 2024, plus 16 quarterback hits but only two sacks and three tackles for loss across that same span. In 2025, Benton reportedly took a major step forward as a full-time starter, posting career highs with 5.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, 12 quarterback hits, and 51 total tackles. The same report also frames Benton as more naturally effective as an interior pass rusher than as a run-stopping, every-down tackle presence, which matters when the Steelers decide how much money and role clarity to build around him.

That role definition is also why the sequencing of priorities may be significant. Extension decisions are rarely only about talent, they are about timing, leverage, and how the salary structure fits the rest of the roster. With Boswell, Herbig, and Washington already extended, Pittsburgh appears to have moved into a phase of finalizing the group selected under Omar Khan’s first draft as general manager, with Benton positioned as the defensive interior “closing” move once the Steelers finish their stated focus on Porter Jr. next.

The Steelers’ internal logic, as implied by the reporting, comes down to continuity. Cameron Heyward’s age and eventual departure are long-term realities for any franchise that has built part of its defensive line identity around a veteran anchor. If Benton’s 2025 production is viewed as the start of a more stable baseline, an extension could preserve the interior’s pass-rushing edge while the Steelers continue developing the next layer of their defense. That also helps explain why Pittsburgh might want to avoid waiting until Benton is further along in the market, when comparable options can cost more in both dollars and roster flexibility.

Still, there is no public contract announcement for Benton to point to. What is confirmed, from the team’s own transactions page, is that the Steelers have already completed three major extensions and that their quarterback pressure, pass-catching weapon, and perimeter coverage priorities are being handled in sequence. What to watch next is whether Benton’s extension appears in the Steelers’ official transaction updates in the coming days, and whether the team’s offseason defensive plan shows any emphasis on keeping the interior pass rush intact through camp and the preseason.