The Pittsburgh Steelers traded for former Seattle Seahawks WR DK Metcalf at the start of the new league year and then they signed him to a five-year, $150 million contract. The details related to that contract, which was essentially a four-year extension, surfaced on Thursday from Pro Football Talk.
Metcalf’s new contract calls for him to have base salaries from 2025 through 2029 of $5,000,000, $25,000,000, $20,000,000, $23,000,000, and $30,500,000, respectively. He also received a signing bonus of $30 million, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Metcalf’s contract includes roster bonuses in the final three years of the deal. Those are respectively $6,500,000, $5,000,000, and $5,000,000.
Metcalf’s current cap charges from 2025 through 2029 are scheduled to be $11 million $31 million, $32.5 million, $34 million, and $41.5 million. This means his 2025 cap charge has dropped a little more than $7 million as a result of this new deal.
As previously reported, the first two years of Metcalf’s contract are fully guaranteed. Additionally, Metcalf’s 2027 base salary of $20 million is guaranteed for injury only, according to Florio.
As far as cash flow goes, Metcalf will earn $60 million from the Steelers through 2026. The new money cash flow for Metcalf for his entire deal is $131,999,529 as he was scheduled to earn $18,000,471 in 2025 prior to signing his new contract with the Steelers.
Splitting hairs, Metcalf’s new money average is technically $32,999,882, or nearly $33 million.
The trade agreed to the Sunday before free agency, it’s a blockbuster move by Pittsburgh. The Steelers sent the Seahawks 2025 second and seventh-round selections in exchange for Metcalf and a 2025 sixth-rounder. He is expected to be a dynamic piece of the Steelers’ passing game as the team sought to add more playmakers to their offense.
Metcalf will wear No. 4 for Pittsburgh, meaning George Pickens will keep No. 14. It’s rare for the Steelers to offer single-digits to a non-quarterback or specialist but Metcalf is a worthy exception.
Below is a yearly breakdown of the Metcalf contract.