PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers reached a contract agreement Monday with their 2012 first round draft choice David DeCastro.
DeCastro and the Steelers reached terms Monday on a four-year contract that includes a fifth-year option. He will report to camp Wednesday at St. Vincent College in Latrobe.
Based on the NFL rookie wage scale, DeCastro’s deal is worth $7.81 million. Only the first three seasons are expected to be fully guaranteed.
DeCastro, an offensive guard and the No. 24 pick in the April draft, agreed to terms hours after No. 23 pick Riley Reiff, a tackle, reached terms on an estimated $8 million, four-year deal with the Detroit Lions.
Linebacker Dont’a Hightower, chosen at No. 25 by the New England Patriots, previously agreed to a $7.7 million contract that guarantees him $6.3 million.
DeCastro is one the highest-rated guards entering the NFL since Alan Faneca with the Steelers in 1998. The Steelers are hoping he will be able to start immediately at right guard and help shore up the protection for Ben Roethlisberger, who was sacked 40 times last season.
The only unsigned Steelers player is wide receiver Mike Wallace, who is attempting to negotiate a multi-year contract. He has not signed a $2.7 million tender offer.
The Steelers also signed undrafted rookie free agent Bridger Buche, an offensive tackle who started all 10 games he played last season at Eastern Michigan.
Channel 11’s news exchange partners at TribLIVE contributed to this report.