Behind the Steel Curtain
What do you think Minkah Fitzpatrick’s eventual contract with the Steelers will look like?
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the headlines currently, as they look to progress on contract extension talks with star pass rusher T.J. Watt, who has stayed away from the team while he seeks a new deal.
However, Watt isn’t the only key starter who could be up for an extension. Star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is entering the third year of the then-record-breaking four-year, $73.6 million deal he signed with the Steelers back in 2022.
While Fitzpatrick still has two more years left on his deal, he has no guaranteed money remaining and is entering his age-29 season. As a result, extension talks have naturally been a conversation.
Now, Fitzpatrick probably won’t earn that record-breaking-level extension that he got in 2022 with his next contract, as his numbers have dropped over the past two seasons.
After an All-Pro year in 2022, Fitzpatrick has just one interception and one forced fumble combined over the past two seasons, and he’s also creeping up on age 30. That could make Pittsburgh shy away from giving the star safety another extension, with Mark Kaboly even suggesting that the Steelers are more likely to move on from Fitzpatrick than pay him again.
“[T.J. Watt’s next contract] may be the last time they have to [pay big money] for a while,” Kaboly said on his podcast. “What type of generational player do they have on the roster right now coming up in two or three years? Probably nobody. I think there’s a better chance of Minkah getting cut than getting a $40 million deal next year or whatever.”
With Fitzpatrick still having another two years on his contract, the Steelers may elect not to engage in contract extension talks this offseason. But, the organization could also try to get a more team-friendly deal with Fitzpatrick done if they do choose an extension, getting the safety more guaranteed money in the process.
Let’s look at what a potential extension could look like.
Kerby Joseph is currently the NFL’s highest-paid safety, earning a four-year, $86 million extension from the Detroit Lions this offseason. Only he and Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. have eclipsed the $20 million-per-year mark at the position.
Of course, both players were under 25 years old when signing their extensions, while Fitzpatrick will be heading into his age-29 season in 2025.
The veteran safety market has really deteriorated in recent years. Perhaps a good baseline to look at is Kyle Dugger’s four-year, $58 million deal with the New England Patriots from last offseason. Dugger was 28 at the time and was a Pro Bowl-caliber player before a down year in 2024.
Now, Fitzpatrick has made the Pro Bowl in three straight years, but he hasn’t made splash plays and missed seven games in 2023 due to injury. He’s also two years older than Dugger at the time of his extension, so...
