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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 4: Pat Freiermuth #88 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on looks on during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Steelers have freed up some cap space entering the summer.
According to a report from PennLive’s Nick Farabaugh, Pittsburgh has restructured tight end Pat Freiermuth’s contract by converting some of his salary into a signing bonus.
“He’s basically getting paid nearly $6M in a lump sum,” Farabaugh wrote in a reply on X. “It just pushed his cap hit up in future years to give short-term relief.”
NFL signing bonuses are prorated through future years of the contract, meaning that Freiermuth’s $11.2 million cap hit in 2026 decreased by a few million, although his future cap hits — 12.1 million and 10.5 million in 2027 and 2028, respectively — went up slightly.
After signing quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a one-year deal with a $22.5 million cap hit in 2026, the Steelers had the second-least cap space in the NFL per Spotrac at just $3.12 million.
Restructuring Freiermuth likely isn’t foreshadowing a big move from the Pittsburgh front office, but rather giving the team a bit more cap wiggle room heading into the summer.
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