Insider Gives James Daniels 2025 Returning Chance Percent

Pittsburgh Steelers right guard James Daniels told Alan Saunders of Steelers Now during OTAs that he’s been informed that there will not be talks of a contract extension between him and the team this offseason.

“I was told nothing’s going to happen, so I don’t have to worry about that,” Daniels said.

Daniels is entering the final year of a three-year, $26.5 million contract that he signed with the team in 2022. He has started 32 of a possible 34 regular season games since joining the team, missing two contests last season.

Given the guard market, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette thinks it’s nearly a guarantee that Daniels will not be back in Pittsburgh next season. Fittipaldo claims that the Steelers’ selection of guard Mason McCormick in the fourth round was a sign from general manager Omar Khan that Daniels will move on in 2025.

“I think 99 percent James Daniels will be with another team next year,” Fittipaldo said on the North Shore Drive podcast. “Basically came out and said, ‘Given the way the guard market is, we want to get younger at that position.’ Isaac Seumalo is making the same amount of money as James Daniels, $8 million a year, Isaac has one more year left on his deal.”

Fittipaldo noted that former Steelers guard Kevin Dotson cashed in this offseason after just one stellar season with the Los Angeles Rams.

“Ideally if it works out with Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu, they’re going to be investing big money in the tackle position and guard is one place you can actually save some money, rather than paying guys on the free agent market. Kevin Dotson after he was traded to the Rams, he’s making $16 million a year, double than what Seumalo and Daniels are making,” he said.

In addition to Dotson, Landon Dickerson of the Philadelphia Eagles signed a four-year, $84 million this offseason only to be eclipsed among NFL guard contracts by Robert Hunt of the Carolina Panthers inking a five-year, $100-million deal.

Guards are getting paid, and Daniels is well aware.

“I pay attention to Dot, obviously, because I played with him, but everything else, I haven’t really paid attention,” Daniels said. “I really don’t see any NFL news or any of that. I found about Dot because someone texted it me. I have seen that it’s a good time to be a guard in the NFL. I’m just glad that those players — they’re all great players — that they’re getting contracts they deserve.”: