Carson Bruener

Career StatsD-

Year	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT
Career		17	19	—	—
2025		17	19	0.0	0

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Steelers secured solid value by locking up Carson Bruener at just $1.1M AAV, earning a B CVI for what amounts to a shrewd developmental investment. While Bruener profiles as a depth piece in terms of current production, Pittsburgh is paying backup money for a linebacker who could easily outperform that modest salary floor over the next four years. At his age and career stage, this contract structure offers tremendous upside — the Steelers can develop a young asset without breaking the bank, while the minimal $0.1M guaranteed keeps their downside risk virtually nonexistent. The deal reflects smart roster construction, as Pittsburgh can afford to be patient with Bruener's development while maintaining flexibility to either extend him if he breaks out or move on without financial penalty. This is exactly the type of low-risk, high-reward contract that championship-caliber organizations use to build depth and uncover hidden gems in the linebacker corps.

Performance Analysis

Carson Bruener earns a D- for the Steelers at linebacker, a young defender who has been primarily a special teams contributor in Pittsburgh. Bruener has not earned meaningful defensive reps and has struggled when given limited opportunities. His processing speed on defense is slow, and he has been caught out of position against NFL-caliber offensive schemes. The Steelers have better options at linebacker, and Bruener is at the bottom of the depth chart for good reason. He is a developmental player who needs significant growth to become a viable NFL defender.