The Pittsburgh Steelers have finally reached a contract extension with one of their guys. All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick reached a deal with the Steelers on a four-year extension that exceeds $73 million. ESPN's Adam Schefter was the first to report the deal.
Steelers and All-Pro S Minkah Fitzpatrick reached agreement on a massive four-year contract extension worth over $18.4 million per year, with $36M gtd at signing, per source. The deal, negotiated and confirmed by @WME_Sports, makes Fitzpatrick the highest paid S in NFL history. pic.twitter.com/Rnb0jJWGoM
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 15, 2022
The deal comes as huge news, as the Steelers are able to lock up one of the game's best safeties for four more years. Fitzpatrick becomes the highest-paid safety in NFL history, and he's certainly deserving of it. He gets $36 million guaranteed in the deal, which again, isn't too bad for either side. Fitzpatrick is now locked up for the next five years, through the 2026 season.
Fitzpatrick came into the Steelers side and made an immediate impact on defense. In three seasons, he's started 48 games and missed just one total. In that time, he's put together quite the resume already in black and gold. Fitzpatrick's got 11 interceptions, two touchdowns, 27 pass deflections, and 260 total tackles with the Steelers. He's made the NFL's First Team All-Pro twice as well as the Pro Bowl twice.
Steelers get the last laugh with the Dolphins
He seems to be well-worth that 2020 first-round pick, huh? Fitzpatrick was acquired via the Dolphins in the middle of the 2019 season for a first-rounder in the 2020 NFL Draft, amongst other picks on both sides. The Dolphins ended up with OT Austin Jackson from USC with that first-round pick, who is nowhere near the level of excellence of Fitzpatrick. It was a debate on if he was worth that early of a pick, but the Steelers have gotten their money's worth, to say the least. Fitzpatrick seems destined to finish as one of the best safeties in Steelers history.
Photo - JSKO_PHOTO (Twitter)
GM Omar Khan makes quite the statement with this being his first move as general manager. Now, star wideout Diontae Johnson and premier kicker Chris Boswell seem next up on the list as far as extensions go. While Stephon Tuitt's retirement was less than ideal, it opened up a decent bit in cap space for the Steelers. It potentially allows them to extend all three guys, with one already done, as well as bring in a veteran for their 90th roster spot.
SteelerNation, what do you guys think? When will Diontae Johnson's extension occur? Let us know in the comments below!
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