Is Calvin Austin The Subsequent Steelers Extension After DeShon Elliott?

Should WR Calvin Austin III follow DeShon Elliott as the next Steelers player to sign an extension?

Calvin Austin has drawn a decent amount of attention during this offseason process, but is his future with the Steelers? He is entering the final year of his contract, and some reporters are skeptical the team views him that way. Even if he starts this year, is he a building block for the future or just the best they have?

The Steelers took care of some business, reportedly signing S DeShon Elliott to a two-year extension. But will T.J. Watt be the only other extension they do this offseason, or will others follow? And if so, will Calvin Austin be one of them—or the only other one?

After missing his rookie season due to injury, he has slowly carved out a niche for himself. Last season, Austin caught 36 passes for 548 yards and four touchdowns. Averaging over 15 yards per catch with a success rate over 50 percent, he proved a reliable target.

There are even some early reports this offseason that new Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers is liking what he sees. Granted, he hasn’t seen much, as he has only been here for a few days. But some reporters offer accounts of positive reactions as he watched Calvin Austin run after the catch.

Whether there is merit to signing Austin to an extension hinges partly on projecting his 2025 season and his value. If he were to have, for example, a 1,000-yard season, what might he fetch in free agency? For all the talent he may have, Calvin Austin is still just 5-9, and no matter how beans he eats, none of them will provide the magic he needs to stalk upward a few inches.

I’ve seen some start to describe Austin’s skill set in terms indicating that if he were only a few inches taller, he could be a star—or at least a well-established starter. Unfortunately for him, his height is one of the few things he can’t change. He will always play at this height, and that will always be a limit on his game, and his earnings. So far the Steelers, does it make sense to sign him to an extension now, or wait to see what he might look like in a larger role?

The Steelers are rebuilding, or reloading, whatever they feel the need to call it, after another disappointment last season. Though they limped into the playoffs, they once again embarrassed themselves therein.

Just like last year, the biggest question hanging over the Steelers is the quarterback question. While they ultimately traded George Pickens, they have other decisions to make. The 2025 NFL Draft class is now behind us, so most of the roster construction is complete.

But we still have a long offseason ahead for Steelers football, or football in shorts. At least we can finally put the Aaron Rodgers situation to bed, and move on to other things. Now it’s about evaluating the roster in place and filling holes as we go.