Every year can make or break an NFL player. But the final year of a rookie contract might be the most pivotal for players. That’s the situation Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Keeanu Benton finds himself in this June.
Unless he signs a contract extension this offseason, Benton will enter 2026 on the final season of his rookie deal.
Steelers new defensive line coach Domata Peko, though, sees Benton meeting, and even exceeding, his next season’s expectations.
“I’m excited for him. He’s a player that has been climbing each year and getting better and better,” Peko told reporters on May 27. “They played him at a lot of nose last year, you know what I mean, but I feel like he can play any position on that defensive front. So, excited to work with him.”
The 2026 campaign was Benton’s first full season as a Steelers starter. He posted 51 combined tackles, including six tackles for loss with 12 quarterback hits and 5.5 sacks.
Benton is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March 2027.
Keeanu Benton Embracing New Steelers Defensive System
During his first three NFL seasons, Benton played for Mike Tomlin and Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. To earn another contract in Pittsburgh, Benton will have to improve in a new defensive system.
The Steelers have a lot of experience on defense. So, early this offseason, it was only natural for pundits to wonder how the team’s veterans were going to respond to a new defensive staff.
Peko made clear at offseason workouts that Benton, and the rest of the team, is embracing new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.
“He’s been coming in on these optional days, you know what I mean, and been grinding with us,” Peko said of Benton. “A lot of guys are buying into the new system. Because anytime you get a new DC, it comes with a new system, new terminology.
“All the guys seem to love the change and are excited for change.”
Change can often be good. As successful as Tomlin was with the Steelers, his defenses weren’t playing at the same elite level late in his coaching tenure.
Graham hasn’t led a defense to a really strong statistical season in the NFL. But pundits consider him a coordinator who’s maximized the talent he’s possessed in the past.
Guys like Benton could give Graham the opportunity to have the best defense of his coordinator career.
2026 Expectations for Benton
As Peko indicated, Benton mostly played defensive tackle, particularly nose tackle, for the previous regime.
That was particularly the case the past two seasons. According to Pro Football Focus, Benton played more than 95% of his defensive snaps at defensive tackle (or nose tackle) in 2025.
To reporters at offseason workouts, though, Peko stressed how Benton will have the opportunity to showcase his versatility this season.
“He’ll definitely be playing some nose,” said Peko. “Like I said, he can play any position on that d-line.
“So, we’re going to mix and match and see what’s best for him.”
Benton registered career highs across the board in 2025. But his analytics suggest he might have actually regressed last season.
In 2025, Benton posted a 58.2 PFF overall grade. That was down from 69.5 in 2024 and 76.9 during 2023.
Those grades imply the opposite of what Peko said about Benton improving every season. But with the opportunity to line up in more different places, perhaps Benton can match his season highs with better PFF grades in 2026.
If he can do that, it’s hard imagining the Steelers not inking Benton to a new contract.
Steelers DL Coach Speaks out on Keeanu Benton Ahead of NFL Contract Year