The Pittsburgh Steelers kept their long snapper from reaching free agency and said goodbye to their former Pro Bowl fullback.
On the first day of NFL free agency, the Steelers signed Kameron Canaday to a two-year, $2.425 million contract that includes a $450,000 signing bonus and salaries of $910,000 and $1.065 million.
Meanwhile, fullback Roosevelt Nix was released after an injury-shortened season. Named a special teams captain, Nix appeared in three games and played just 34 offensive snaps because of knee injuries. He was scheduled to make $1.45 million this season and $1.525 million in 2021. By releasing Nix, the Steelers will shave at least $1 million off their salary cap.
Nix made the Pro Bowl in 2017 when he served as the blocking back for Le’Veon Bell.
Nix became expendable when the Steelers agreed to a three-year, $9.75 million contract with fullback/special teams player Derek Watt.
An iconic franchise, a legendary city AND the chance to play on the same team as my brother. Could not possibly be more excited for what’s ahead! Pittsburgh, I promise to give you everything I have to make you proud.
STEEL CITY LETS GO!! (Need @primantibros ASAP) #SteelerNation pic.twitter.com/FL4QnoorRN— Derek Watt (@DerekWatt34) March 18, 2020
Watt’s contract included a $3.25 million signing bonus and annual salaries of $1 million, $1.75 million and $2.75 million. It also features a $1 million roster bonus in 2021. That pushes about $4.833 million in salary cap space to the final year of the deal.
The Watt signing won’t become official until he passes a physical, a process that could be delayed because of the difficulty getting examined as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
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