Alejandro Villanueva has himself a new deal. The Steelers offensive tackle has agreed to a fresh four-year deal with the Steelers, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
The four-year deal is worth $24MM, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter), with $14MM over the first two years. It’s a big step up considering that he was slated for a $615K salary this year as an exclusive rights free agent, but it’s still a team-friendly deal on the whole when considering Villanueva’s talent level. The top ten tackles in the league are making five figures per year and Villanueva effectively added three seasons at an average of $7.8MM. Villanueva may not be a top ten talent at the position, but he’s not far off and he’s just entering his prime years. The tackle turns 29 in September.
Villanueva waited to sign his ERFA tender this offseason in hopes that he could hammer out a long-term extension with Pittsburgh instead. Even though he wasn’t eligible to reach the open market until 2018, the Steelers opted to do right by one of its most important offensive linemen while also securing him for years to come.
Since debuting in 2015, Villanueva has appeared in 32 straight games, including 26 starts. He started every Steelers game last year and was the only member of its offense to play on all 1,083 of the unit’s snaps.
Last year, he was the 24th best offensive tackle in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.
This guy is the best story in the NFL. Incredibly career journey.
Yes, and the geniuses in Philly had him and let him go free, also had T. Pryor in for a workout and didn’t sign him, so good good for those that took a chance on them.
I remember watching him with Philly in a preseason game vs the Steelers. Want to say it was the next week he was let go and then picked up by the Steelers.
Glad to see the extension! Well earned
Granted he was also a defensive lineman at the time, but still I bet they’re probably regretting letting him go.
Martavis is not fully re instated. This could be big trouble
It’s not big trouble, it’s a process. He will be fully reinstated soon. He has passed every stipulation they put in front of him.
Also…(see Steelers WR depth chart).
That thang is deeeeeep