The Pittsburgh Steelers officially signed unrestricted free agent linebacker Cole Holcomb on Thursday, and the details of that deal are now known.
According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, Holcomb signed a three-year, $18 million contract. As part of the deal, Wilson reports, Holcomb received a $4.92 million signing bonus and base salaries in 2023, 2024 and 2025 of $1.08 million, $6 million and $4 million, respectively. He also has a $2 million roster bonus due in March of 2025, per Wilson.
Holcomb’s cap charges in 2023, 2024, and 2025 are set to be $2.72 million, $7.64 million and $7.64 million, respectively. His contract is an even cash split of the $18 million total as he is set to earn $6 million in 2023 and another $6 million in both 2024 and 2025.
Holcomb, who was selected by Washington Commanders in the fifth-round (173rd overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft out of North Carolina, registered 388 total regular season tackles in his first four NFL seasons. He also has three interceptions, five forced fumbles, 4.5 sacks, 10 passes defensed and 15 total tackles for loss in 50 career games.
Last season, Holcomb registered 69 total tackles, one tackle for loss, and one pass defensed in seven regular season games. His 2022 season was cut short by a foot injury that required surgery. Holcomb is expected to be the Steelers’ new starting three-down inside linebacker in 2023.
