Steelers sign backup tackle Zach Banner to 1-year contract
The Pittsburgh Steelers got one of their restricted free agents under contract Tuesday when tackle Zach Banner agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.75 million.
Banner signed a deal for less than the lowest tender amount — $2.133 million. He earned $645,000 last year as an exclusive rights free agent.
“I’m betting on myself as a professional, but extremely grateful and humbled to have this group of men around me, and you as a fanbase for another season,” Banner wrote on his verified Twitter account.
In all seriousness I love it here. I’m betting on myself as a professional, but extremely grateful and humbled to have this group of men around me, and you as a fanbase for another season
I don’t ever want to make it about me. So now that that’s over with, let’s have some fun! https://t.co/kwzFdx9sdC
— Zach Banner (@ZBNFL) March 17, 2020
Banner joined the Steelers in 2018 and became a fixture in the team’s Jumbo package last year as an eligible receiver/blocking tight end.
Banner appeared in 14 games and made his first start with the Steelers on Nov. 14 at Cincinnati. He could compete for the starting right tackle job this year if the Steelers move Matt Feiler to left guard to replace Ramon Foster.
The Steelers must decide whether to tender offers to their other restricted free agents by Wednesday at 4 p.m. Feiler is the most prominent candidate, along with starting slot cornerback Mike Hilton. Both players are candidates for the $3.259 million second-round tender.
The other restricted free agent is backup safety/special teams player Jordan Dangerfield.
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
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