The Pittsburgh Steelers have awarded major contracts to tight end Darnell Washington and edge rusher Nick Herbig as part of their offseason strategy.
The deals cover rotational players who share snaps with established teammates. Washington works alongside Pat Freiermuth while Herbig rotates with T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. ESPN reporter Brooke Pryor explained the approach during a SportsCenter appearance. She noted that the team locks in talent early ahead of rising salary cap figures that exceeded $300 million last year and will grow further. Pryor added that the moves prepare the roster for a future rookie quarterback. This setup frees cap space for spending on other positions. Additional extensions remain possible for cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and defensive lineman Keeanu Benton.
