Pittsburgh Steelers Extend Lawrence Timmons' Contract, Re-Sign Trai Essex

According to Steelers.com, the Pittsburgh Steelers have reached an agreement on a six-year contract extension with starting ILB Lawrence Timmons.

The extension if for six years and $50 million.  This extension will keep Timmons with the Steelers until 2017 (it is reported on Steelers.com through 2015, but simple math says that is a typo) when Timmons turns 31 years old.

Timmons was the first pick of the Mike Tomlin era in 2007.  Tomlin then selected LaMarr Woodley in the second round.

With the re-signing of Woodley and Timmons, the Steelers look to have two of the most dominant linebackers in the NFL set on their roster for the next six years. And that is not counting former Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison.

The Steelers also re-signed Trai Essex to a one-year contract.  Terms of the deal are not yet known.  Essex was an unrestricted free agent.

Essex was a third-round pick of the Steelers in 2005, and started 25 games with the Steelers.  To make room for Essex, the Steelers waived rookie offensive lineman Nevin McCaskill.

Essex has played his career at guard, and could compete for playing time on the right side