Steelers Lockup RFA NT Steve McLendon

The Pittsburgh Steelers have announced that they have signed restricted free agent NT Steve McLendon to a three-year deal.

• Ian Rapoport reports that McClendon’s new contract is worth a max value of $7.25 million and includes a $1.675 million signing bonus.
  
• Adam Schefter adds that he will receive $5 million in first two years of this contract.

This news comes less than a day after it was reported that the McClendon was set to visit with the Packers ahead of Friday’s deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets.

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Aaron Wilson reports that Steelers restricted free agent NT Steve McLendon met with the Packers on Wednesday.

McClendon received a low tender of $1.323 million from the Steelers this offseason, so they’ll have the right of first refusal if McClendon were to sign an offer sheet with the Packers.

Veteran NT Casey Hampton is still a free agent, which means the Steelers may have plans for McLendon to take over as their starter next season. Pittsburgh strategy of placing low-round tenders on restricted free agents hasn’t been paying off as they wound up giving Emmanuel Sanders even more money after the Patriots signed him to an offer sheet.

Green Bay could clearly use some additional depth on their defensive line, so it will be interesting to see if they end up making him an offer before Friday’s deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets.