The Steelers were believed to be dug in regarding the question of whether any portion of guard Dave DeCastro’s fourth-year compensation would be guaranteed. In the end, none of it is.
As a practical matter, some of it is.
Per a source with knowledge of the contract between the Steelers and the 24th overall pick in the 2012 draft (which will become official on Tuesday), the Steelers agreed to shift $325,000 of the 2015 pay into a roster bonus that is due on the third day of the league year. Another $100,000 has been moved to a workout bonus.
The Patriots gave linebacker Dont’a Hightower, the 25th pick in the draft, no guarantees or similar devices in the fourth year of the deal. It’s unknown whether and to what extent the Lions did anything other than commit to a non-guaranteed base salary for tackle Riley Reiff, the 23rd overall pick, in year four.
Last year, the 24th pick (Cameron Jordan of the Saints) received no guarantees or similar devices in the fourth year of the deal. The 23rd pick (Eagles guard Danny Watkins) had $100,000 of his 2014 salary shifted to a reporting bonus, per a league source.