At some point between now and the start of the regular season, the Pittsburgh Steelers are likely to sign guard David DeCastro to a long term contract extension after picking up his fifth-year option last year. The Stanford product and former first-round draft pick isn’t taking anything for granted, however, as he is planning to protect himself just in case a deal doesn’t get done.
According to Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, DeCastro told the media on Thursday upon arriving at Latrobe for the start of training camp that he has shopped for insurance policies just in case a long term deal doesn’t get done.
DeCastro already knows firsthand about injuries in the NFL, unfortunately. In 2012, during a preseason game, DeCastro’s right knee got bent on a play and it left him with a torn medial collateral ligament and dislocated knee cap. The injury cost him all but four games of his rookie season.
DeCastro has also been on the giving end of an injury to one of his own offensive linemates as he inadvertently whiffed on a cut block in the 2013 regular season opener and dove into the back of the legs of center Maurkice Pouncey. It resulted in Pouncey tearing an ACL that wound up putting him out for the remainder of the season.
Currently, DeCastro is scheduled to earn $8,070,000 in 2016 after having his option picked up by the Steelers. His new contract, if he gets one, could result in him being the second-highest paid guard in the NFL after making his first Pro Bowl last season.
