Report: Steelers Restructure Stephon Tuitt’s Contract

The Pittsburgh Steelers have restructured the contract of defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt, giving the team some salary cap flexibility as it enters the 2019 season.

Tuitt will have his $5.195 million of his $6 million base salary for this season converted into to a signing bonus and spread over the rest of his contract, according to a report by Field Yates of ESPN.

Source: the Steelers have converted $5.195M of DL Stephon Tuitt’s $6M base salary into a signing bonus, creating $3.9M in cap space for 2019. Some needed breathing room for Pittsburgh.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 30, 2019

Tuitt, 26, originally signed his five-year, $60 million contract before the 2017 season. He and the team have already restructured it once, in February 2018. He earned a $3 million roster bonus this March.

Restructuring a contract does not change its value, but it does provide more upfront money for the player. The Steelers still owe Tuitt $36 million, according to Spotrac.

The move will save the Steelers approximately $3.9 million under the salary cap this season, giving them space to make minor additions as training camp moves on, or potentially lock up a player that is on an expiring contract to an extension.

Cornerback Joe Haden said he was optimistic such a deal would get done on training camp report day, while linebacker Bud Dupree said on Sunday that he isn’t interested in such an extension.