12:49pm: Moats’ deal is worth $7.5MM over three years, a league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (on Twitter).
12:36pm: Not only is Arthur Moats staying with the Steelers – he decided to give himself the scoop on the story.
“Steeler Nation, I’m proud to announce that my family and I will be staying in Pittsburgh! #GoSteelers!,” the linebacker tweeted.
Moats, 26, signed with Pittsburgh last March on a minimum salary benefit deal. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) was very high on his performance against the run in 2013 and this year he received high marks for his overall performance. PFF had Moats ranked as the 17th best outside linebacker in a 3-4 set with his 7.3 overall grade. Those advanced numbers put him ahead of guys like Clay Matthews, Trent Cole, Aldon Smith, and Brian Orakpo in 2014.
Moats appeared in all 16 games for Pittsburgh last year and made nine starts. In total, he had 24 tackles and a career high 4.0 sacks.