The Steelers signed cornerback Cortez Allen to a five-year, $26-million contract on Saturday night, locking up one of their starting corners for the future.
Allen had been mentioned by general manager Kevin Colbert as one of four players the team would like to extend in training camp. He had been entering the final season of his contract.
Offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert, placekicker Shaun Suisham and outside linebacker Jason Worilds were the others. All but Worilds, who was transition tagged in the offseason, have now signed extensions.
A former fourth-round draft pick, Allen had 57 tackles and two interceptions in 14 games last season.
His deal is slightly less than the one signed by Keenan Lewis following the 2012 season. Lewis signed a 5-year, $26.3 million deal to leave the Steelers as a free agent for New Orleans.
The difference was that the Steelers now had the cap space to lock up one of their promising young players to a long term deal. Lewis is 28. Allen will turn 26 in October.
3 comments:
Lewis is on another level. We have to hope Allen can get there
Well maybe not
Kinda had to sign him, otherwise no starting corners on the roster going into the offseason. Good. Didn't he have a high ankle at the beginning of last year? Maybe being fully healthy, he'll have a big year.
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