Daniel Ekuale

Pittsburgh Steelers, Defensive Tackle
Age: 32y-1m-23d (Jan 13, 1994)
Exp: 7 Years
Country: US
College: Washington State
Drafted: Undrafted, CLE, 2018
Agent(s): Blake Baratz (The Institute for Athletes)
Career Earnings

$9,776,894

2025-2025 Free Agent

Daniel Ekuale signed a 1 year, $2,800,000 contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, including $1,630,000 signing bonus, $1,630,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $2,800,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $2,800,000
Average Salary:
$2,800,000
Signing Bonus:
$1,630,000
GTD at Sign:
$1,630,000
Total GTD:
$1,630,000
Free Agent:
2026 / UFA
MANAGE CONTRACT
Year Age Cap HitAnnual Cap % League Cap Cash Annual Cash Cumulative Dead Cap Annual
2025 31 $2,807,560 1.01% $2,029,782 $2,029,782 $1,637,560
2026 32
UFA
Year Age Base P5 Salary Signing Proration Workout Bonus Cap Hit Cap % League Dead Cap
2025 31 $1,170,000 $1,630,000 $7,560 $2,807,560 1.01% $1,637,560
2026 32
UFA
Year Age Base P5 Salary Signing Bonus Workout Bonus Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining
2025 31 $845,000 $1,177,222 $7,560 $2,029,782 $2,029,782 $2,029,782
Source: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2023-2024 Free Agent

Contract Terms:
2 yr(s) / $3,400,000
Average Salary:
$1,700,000
Signing Bonus:
$600,000
GTD at Sign:
$1,000,000
Total GTD:
$1,000,000
Free Agent:
2025 / UFA
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2022-2022 Free Agent

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $1,110,000
Average Salary:
$1,110,000
Signing Bonus:
$75,000
GTD at Sign:
$75,000
Total GTD:
$75,000
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2021-2021

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $850,000
Average Salary:
$850,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
GTD at Sign:
Total GTD:
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2020-2021

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $675,000
Average Salary:
$675,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
GTD at Sign:
Total GTD:
Free Agent:
2022 / RFA
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2019-2020

Contract Terms:
2 yr(s) / $1,080,000
Average Salary:
$540,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
GTD at Sign:
Total GTD:
Free Agent:
2021 / ERFA
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2018-2020 undrafted

Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $1,710,000
Average Salary:
$570,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
GTD at Sign:
Total GTD:
Free Agent:
2021 / RFA
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Seasons

7 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$11,268,519

Earnings w/ Different Teams

4 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2018 24
Retained
$98,800
$98,800
2019 25
Injured
Injured
$488,848
$488,848
$587,648
$1,076,496
2020 26
Active
Retained
$756,155
$25,200
$1,832,651
$1,857,851
2021 27
Retained
Active
$328,110
$47,222
$2,185,961
$2,233,183
2022 28
Active
Active
$1,002,777
$1,002,777
$3,235,960
$4,238,737
2023 29
Injured
$2,200,000
$6,438,737
2024 30
Active
$2,800,000
$9,238,737
2025 31
Injured
$2,029,782
$11,268,519
Total      
$11,268,519
$11,268,519
Total
$11,268,519

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
2 $964,918 - - - - $111,578 $1,076,496
1 $620,788 - - - - $160,567 $781,355
4 $4,455,888 $750,000 $90,000 - $150,000 $1,000,000 $7,380,886
1 $845,000 $1,177,222 - - $7,560 - $2,029,782
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Workout Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2018
24
$98,800
$98,800
$98,800
2019
25
$433,059
$433,059
$55,789
$55,789
$488,848
$488,848
$587,648
$1,076,496
2020
26
$595,588
$25,200
$160,567
$756,155
$25,200
$1,832,651
$1,857,851
2021
27
$328,110
$47,222
$328,110
$47,222
$2,185,961
$2,233,183
2022
28
$857,778
$857,778
$75,000
$75,000
$45,000
$45,000
$25,000
$25,000
$1,002,777
$1,002,777
$3,235,960
$4,238,737
2023
29
$1,125,000
$600,000
$50,000
$2,200,000
$6,438,737
2024
30
$1,240,000
$50,000
$1,000,000
$2,800,000
$9,238,737
2025
31
$845,000
$1,177,222
$7,560
$2,029,782
$11,268,519
Total
$6,886,594
$1,927,222
$90,000
$157,560
$1,272,145
$11,268,519
$11,268,519
Total
$6,886,594
$1,927,222
$90,000
$157,560
$1,272,145
$11,268,519

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
2 $964,918 - - - - $111,578 $1,076,496
1 $620,788 - - - - $160,567 $781,355
4 $4,455,888 $750,000 $90,000 - $150,000 $1,000,000 $7,380,886
1 $845,000 $1,177,222 - - $7,560 - $2,029,782

Injuries

Year Weeks Reason
2025 PIT 9 - 18 Knee (ACL)
2023 NE 4 - 18 Biceps
2019 CLE 9 - 17 Calf
  • Nov 25, 2025 Suspended 5 games for violating the league's PED policy (repeat offender), forfeiting $777,777 in 2025 salary with Pittsburgh (PIT)
  • Mar 17, 2025 Signed a 1 year $2.8 million contract with Pittsburgh (PIT)
  • Mar 17, 2023 Signed a 2 year $3.4 million contract with New England (NE)
  • Jun 13, 2022 Suspended 2 games with New England (NE)
  • Jan 25, 2022 Signed a reserve/future contract with New England (NE)
  • Sep 05, 2021 Signed to the practice squad by New England (NE)
  • Sep 01, 2021 Waived by Jacksonville (JAC)
  • Sep 28, 2020 Signed to the active roster by Jacksonville (JAC)
  • Sep 08, 2020 Signed to the practice squad by Jacksonville (JAC)
  • Sep 05, 2020 Waived by Cleveland (CLE)
  • Jan 01, 2019 Signed a reserve/future contract with Cleveland (CLE)
  • Dec 05, 2018 Suspended 4 games for violating the league's PED policy, forfeiting $30,400 in 2018 salary with Cleveland (CLE)
  • Sep 03, 2018 Signed to the practice squad by Cleveland (CLE)
  • Sep 02, 2018 Waived by Cleveland (CLE)
  • May 04, 2018 Signed a contract with Cleveland (CLE)

Suspensions

Date Reason Games Suspended Fine Amount
Nov 25, 2025 PED 5 $777
Jun 13, 2022 Undisclosed 2 $107,222
Dec 04, 2018 PEDs 4 $30,400
Suspensions: 3 $138,399
Year Team GP GS Snaps Snaps% Sack Tackles Total Tackles Solo Tackles Assisted FFum Int
2025 PIT 7 0 72 6.98 0 6 4 2 0 0
2024 NE 16 16 722 66.12 1 52 24 28 0 0
2023 NE 3 0 50 4.76 0 3 2 1 1 0
2022 NE 15 0 364 34.67 2 14 10 4 0 0
2021 NE 7 0 99 8.98 2 5 4 1 0 0
2020 JAX 9 5 290 27.97 1 13 6 7 0 0
2019 CLE 4 0 69 6.30 0 4 3 1 0 0

Calculated Market Value

$2.0M Avg. Annual Salary

Market Value

  • 1 years, $1,967,674
  • Avg. Salary: $1,967,674
  • NFL Rank: 611

Current Contract

  • Free Agent: 2026
  • Avg. Salary: $2,800,000

Comparable Players

We've selected the following players based on their age, contract status, and statistical production to compare Daniel Ekuale to.

Player Length Value Avg. Salary Age When Signed
Austin Johnson 1 $2,000,000 $2,000,000 31
John Jenkins 1 $1,950,000 $1,950,000 36
William Gholston 1 $1,377,500 $1,377,500 32
Sheldon Day 1 $1,255,000 $1,255,000 31
Averages 1 $1,645,625 $1,645,625 32.5

Base Calculated Value

After adjusting the above contracts as if signed at Ekuale's current age (32), a linear regression is performed, providing us with the following initial value.

Length Value Avg. Salary
1 $1,645,625 $1,645,625

Statistical Comparisons

Now we'll compare our variables and Ekuale statistically over the two seasons prior to their signing. In this case we're analyzing: GP%, Snaps %, Tackles/Gm, Sacks/Gm, Stops/Gm, QB Hurries/Gm, Rating

Player GP% Snaps % Tackles/Gm Sacks/Gm Stops/Gm QB Hurries/Gm Rating
Austin Johnson
2023-2024
 94.12 41.79 0.97 0.02 0.78 0.66 50.75
John Jenkins
2023-2024
 100.00 55.54 1.09 0.06 1.50 0.59 57.15
William Gholston
2022-2023
 97.06 31.04 1.03 0.00 1.00 0.34 58.70
Sheldon Day
2023-2024
 52.94 17.36 0.83 0.00 0.83 0.39 58.80
Average 86.03 36.43 0.98 0.02 1.03 0.50 56.35
Daniel Ekuale
2024-2025
 67.65 36.55 1.22 0.04 1.30 0.48 66.80
Pct Change -21.36 0.33 24.49 100.00 26.21 -4.00 18.54
Median Prime % Change 18.54%
Average Prime % Change 20.60%

Calculated Market Value: Daniel Ekuale

After applying our Prime % figures into our base calculated value, we're given two values. The average of these values becomes our current calculated market value.

Terms Avg. Salary
1 years, $1,967,674 $1,967,674
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