The Steelers have secured a key part of their defense, agreeing to terms with Minkah Fitzpatrick on a contract extension that will keep him in Pittsburgh beyond the 2022 season.
The four-year, $73.6-million extension keeps Fitzpatrick in a Steelers uniform over the next five seasons and, according to multiple reports, is worth over $18.4 million per year and comes with $36 million guaranteed at signing.
The deal makes Fitzpatrick the highest-paid safety in NFL history.
Done deal. ✍️ pic.twitter.com/mLsThSrdhg
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) June 15, 2022
"We are very excited to sign Minkah to a new five-year contract," said general manager Omar Khan in a press release. "Minkah is one of the top safeties in the NFL and we are thrilled he will be in Pittsburgh through at least the next five years. When we traded for him, we knew he was going to be an integral part of our defense and we look forward to that continuing as we prepare for the upcoming season."
Prior to the contract extension, Fitzpatrick attended the team's mandatory minicamp last week, but did not fully participate in drills on the field.
Fitzpatrick received a $17.5-million signing bonus, which is spread out at $3.5 million per year over the life of the contract. Fitzpatrick's base salary for 2022 dropped to $4 million, and after a $624,235 roster bonus, he will carry a cap hit of only $8,124,235 million this season, which leaves the Steelers with an estimated $22.6 million in cap space, counting the top 51 contracts and all dead money. Fitzpatrick's cap hit is third-highest on the team, behind fellow defensive teammates T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward.
The #Steelers spend $39.3M more per year on their top 5 defensive players than their top 5 offensive players. Next closest team is Chicago at a difference of $17.9M
— Jason_OTC (@Jason_OTC) June 15, 2022
In 2023, Fitzpatrick's fully-guaranteed base salary of $14.5 million results in an $18-million cap hit, followed by cap hits of $18, $19 and $21.1 million over the final three years of the contract. However, the Steelers could get out of the contract prior to the 2024 season with no additional guaranteed money in those final three seasons other than his pro-rated signing bonus.
Since the Steelers acquired Fitzpatrick from the Dolphins in exchange for a first-round pick in 2019, the 25-year-old safety has solidified the back end of the Steelers defense. He's racked up 11 interceptions, 203 total tackles, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and three total touchdowns over two-plus seasons in Pittsburgh, and was named first-team All Pro in 2019 and 2020. Fitzpatrick recorded a career-high 124 tackles in 2021.
