PIT Keeanu Benton
NFL player. Position: DT. Team: PIT.
Quick Facts
- Position: DT (Defensive Tackle)
- Team: PIT (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- Draft: 2nd round, 2023 NFL Draft
- College: Missouri
2026 Outlook
Benton faces a pivot in his 2026 role under new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. In 2025, Benton recorded his most productive season (5.5 sacks, 782 snaps) but spent much of it lined up as a nose tackle on 234 snaps despite being undersized (6'5", 336 lbs) and better suited as a downhill disruptor. His PFF grades show the mismatch: he is undersized for the nose role and relies more on quickness and acceleration than strength. Graham's 3-4 defense offers an opportunity to deploy Benton as a true defensive end/pass rusher attacking gaps downhill, which aligns with his pass-rush production (70.5 PFF pass-rush grade, ranked 9th among linebackers despite being a DT). The Steelers' addition of Yahya Black (5th round, 2025) at nose tackle should finally free Benton to play his natural position. Graham intends to use Benton as a backfield disruptor in nickel packages and gap-attacking schemes rather than as a traditional nose tackle. If properly deployed in 2026, Benton could emerge as a Pro Bowl-caliber defender and potential second-contract candidate at significantly higher price. (per Patrick Graham can finally put an end to Steelers' misuse of dynamic defender - Still Curtain)
On the contract front, Spotrac projects Benton to earn ~$26M per year due to inflated market comparables set by Milton Williams (Patriots, 4yr/$104M) and Jordan Davis (Eagles, $26M/yr). The Steelers face pressure to extend him ahead of free agency in 2027, especially if Cam Heyward retires after 2026 and Benton proves essential under Graham's new scheme. (per Two NFL players already screwed Steelers in Keeanu Benton contract pursuit)
Role / Depth Chart
Defensive tackle in Pittsburgh's 3-4 defense. Expected to shift from nose tackle (where he struggled) to defensive end position under new DC Patrick Graham, aligning with his strengths as a gap-attacker and pass-rusher.
Injury Status
Healthy heading into 2026.
Recent News
- 2026-06-12 — Two NFL players already screwed Steelers in Keeanu Benton contract pursuit (Two NFL players already screwed Steelers in Keeanu Benton contract pursuit)
- 2026-05-09 — McCorkle: Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 53-Man Roster Prediction (Pre-OTAs) (McCorkle: Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 53-Man Roster Prediction (Pre-OTAs))
- 2026-05-03 — NFL defense rankings 2025: Evaluating all 32 Defenses Entering 2026 Season (NFL defense rankings 2025: Evaluating all 32 Defenses Entering 2026 Season)
- 2026-03-30 — Updating the Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 depth chart after recent acquisitions (Updating the Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 depth chart after recent acquisitions)
- 2026-05-14 — Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 Schedule, Week-By-Week Analysis (Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 Schedule, Week-By-Week Analysis)
- 2026-04-18 — Don't Have To Come Up With Any Gimmicks Here': Patrick Graham On Leading Steelers' Defense (Don't Have To Come Up With Any Gimmicks Here': Patrick Graham On Leading Steelers' Defense)
- 2026-06-10 — Can Steelers Get All Of Their Contract-Extension Candidates Signed? (Can Steelers Get All Of Their Contract-Extension Candidates Signed?)
- 2026-06-03 — Steelers Sign TE Darnell Washington to Four-Year Extension (Steelers Sign TE Darnell Washington to Four-Year Extension)
- 2026-06-11 — 2026 NFL contracts: Next to get a big deal at every position (2026 NFL contracts: Next to get a big deal at every position)
- 2026-06-05 — Projecting contract extension for Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr (Projecting contract extension for Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr)