Pittsburgh Steelers sign CB Daylan Carnell

Carnell's three-year, $3.1M deal at a $1.035M AAV earns a fair-value Contract Value Index (CVI) grade — a minimum-range signing that carries almost no financial risk for Pittsburgh. At that salary floor, the Steelers are essentially paying for roster flexibility and camp competition rather than a proven contributor, which is exactly the appropriate price point for a player at this level of the depth chart. The contract structure itself is about as team-friendly as it gets: with just $5,000 in guaranteed money, Pittsburgh can move on at virtually zero cost if Carnell doesn't separate himself during the preseason. For a cornerback position that demands depth given the physical toll of the NFL season, locking in a three-year term at replacement-level money is a reasonable hedge — it buys developmental runway without handcuffing the roster. The CVI reflects that dynamic squarely: this isn't a steal because the production profile doesn't justify elevation, but it's not an overpay when the financial exposure is essentially nil. With the regular season still 99 days out and the Steelers holding a #4 AFC seed to defend, adding low-cost secondary depth during the offseason is sound roster management even if Carnell's ceiling appears to be a rotational or practice-squad contributor.