According to a report, the Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to a four-year, $26 million contract extension for cornerback Cortez Allen.
Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported via Twitter:
Cortez Allen agrees to a 4yr extension with the Steelers worth $26M. Strong deal for the corner
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) September 7, 2014
Allen is the third player to agree to an extension with Pittsburgh, joining kicker Shaun Suisham and tackle Marcus Gilbert. The Steelers were able to push quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s extension back to next year, allowing them the cap flexibility to lock up some of their key younger players.
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Allen started eight games last season and had 51 tackles and 13 passes broken up. He also had two interceptions, one of which he returned for his first career touchdown.
Allen, 25, was a fourth-round pick in 2011 out of The Citadel and was basically just a special teams performer in 2011. In his second year, he started three games and took on a more active role in the secondary, defending 10 passes, forcing three fumbles and interception two passes.
He started three games for Pittsburgh this preseason before sitting out the finale against the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 28.
According to Pro Football Focus, Allen graded out as Pittsburgh’s second-best corner in 2013, trailing only William Gay.
Allen would have been a free agent at the end of this season.