DK Metcalf played his first season with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025 after arriving from the Seattle Seahawks in a blockbuster offseason trade. He finished the campaign with 59 receptions for 850 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games, leading Pittsburgh in receiving yards and touchdown catches.
The Steelers acquired the veteran wide receiver for a second-round pick before signing him to a four-year, $132 million contract extension. While his first season did not reach the 1,000-yard mark, Metcalf remained one of Aaron Rodgers’ most reliable offensive weapons. He helped the Steelers reach the playoffs and enters 2026 looking to build on last year’s performance.
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Now, entering his second season with Pittsburgh, Metcalf has agreed to another significant change to his contract. ESPN’s Field Yates reported Thursday that the Steelers restructured the wide receiver’s deal, converting base salary into a signing bonus and creating nearly $18 million in 2026 salary-cap space.
The move does not represent a pay cut for Metcalf. Instead, Pittsburgh converted a portion of his scheduled $25 million base salary into a signing bonus, allowing the cap charge to be spread across the remaining years of his contract. His original 2026 cap hit was $31 million.
The restructure gives the Steelers significantly more flexibility heading into the season while keeping Metcalf under contract through 2029. It also allows Pittsburgh to create room without moving on from its top receiver.
Metcalf now has another opportunity to make an impact in his second season with the Steelers, while the franchise can use its newfound cap space to continue building around Rodgers.
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