Unable to come to terms on a long-term contract with Chris Boswell, the Steelers will place a second-round restricted free agent tender on the placekicker on Monday. Per a source, the team also will make a tender offer to linebacker Anthony Chickillo.
Per the tender, Boswell will earn $2.94 million from the Steelers this season if he chooses to sign the deal. Otherwise, he would be free to sign with another team in free agency, but the Steelers would receive a second-round draft pick as compensation.
Chickillo, a sixth-round draft pick in 2015, would receive $1.907 million for his tender. A former college defensive lineman, Chickillo has 5.5 sacks in 38 career games with the Steelers, nine of which have been starts.
Boswell made 35 of 39 field goals in 2017, earning his first Pro Bowl trip while setting a team record with 142 points. Boswell made all four of his field goal attempts from beyond 50 yards, including a 53-yard game-winner against Green Bay that is the longest in Heinz Field history.
Boswell, 26, joined the Steelers five games into the 2015 season after failing in tryouts with the Houston Texans and New York Giants. Since then, he has become one of the league's best kickers, making 89.5 percent of his field goals.
The move came on the same day the team informed veteran cornerback William Gay he would be released at a salary cap savings of $1.75 million.
The Steelers are expected to release safety Mike Mitchell, as well, at a savings of $5 million. All NFL teams must be in compliance with the NFL salary cap by 4 p.m. Wednesday.
