It probably should already be a given, but just in case it wasn’t, Pittsburgh Steelers tackle Kelvin Beachum has now reportedly entered contract extension talks with the team, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com.
Hearing Steelers and LT Kelvin Beachum have entered preliminary contract talks. Could be next in line for long-term deal. #steelers
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) July 30, 2015
Beachum, who has been the Steelers starting left tackle since the fifth week of the 2013 season, is now in the final year of his rookie contract. The SMU product was drafted originally in the seventh-round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
The Steelers have already given lucrative extensions to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and defensive end Cameron Heyward so far this offseason. Beachum is expected to want a yearly new money average of roughly $8.5 million per season as that should land him near or end the top-ten highest paid tackles in the league.
“I appreciate working with him. He played really well,” Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak said Wednesday of Beachum, according to the Washington Observer-Reporter. “I think people are starting to realize the role of the left tackle, how you have to have one of those you can leave out there.”
Last year during this same time, fellow Steelers tackle Marcus Gilbert signed a five-year, $30 million contract extension with the team.
In case you missed it, here is a contract I projected a few weeks ago for Beachum.
