Steelers' Chris Boswell gets $25.6 million contract update after Cameron Heyward news

Apparently, the Pittsburgh Steelers' top players were mostly just keeping their contract desires under the radar.

But something about Thursday is bringing things out into the open.

Earlier in the day, news emerged that veteran defensive tackle Cameron Heyward wants a new deal.

And now? It's kicker Chris Boswell.

ESPN's Adam Schefter posted the following on X:

"In addition to Cam Heyward, All-Pro kicker Chris Boswell privately has been seeking a new contract from the Steelers, per source. Despite being voted first team All-Pro, Boswell was the AFC North’s lowest-paid kicker last season. Three years ago Boswell signed a contract that tied him with Justin Tucker as the NFL’s highest-paid kicker; but that market also has been reset the past two years."

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According to ESPN's Brooke Pryor, "Boswell is currently the NFL’s 8th-highest paid kicker. He’s currently signed through 2026 with a $5mil AAV. Harrison Butker is the league’s highest-paid kicker with a contract value of $25.6 mil/$6.4 AAV."

Boswell is coming off the best season of his life. 

His age-33 campaign featured 41 made field goals in 44 attempts. Boswell was 13-for-15 from beyond 50 yards. Those were all career bests.

The righty kicker also made all 35 of his extra point attempts and had touchbacks on more than half of his kickoffs.

Boswell turned 34 in March, but kickers have a tendency to age more gracefully than their counterparts at other positions.

Boswell had a rough 2022 season, making just 71.4% of his kicks, but he has been 93.5% and 93.2% the past two years. He has been 90% or better in five of the past six seasons.

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It certainly seems like Boswell should continue producing, so there's a case to be made for him to get some new money from the Steelers.

Working against him is that his current deal runs through 2026. The Steelers don't really have incentive to give him new money aside from gaining goodwill.

That could be worth it, because a team in win-now mode with a 41-year old QB certainly needs a happy, healthy and effective kicker to reach its ceiling.

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