Pittsburgh Steelers G David DeCastro hopes for new contract

LATROBE, Pa. -- The Steelers took care of business with their 2010 and 2011 first-round picks before training camp started the past two years. This summer they'll be negotiating a long-term contract with 2012 first-round pick David DeCastro during camp.

Center Maurkice Pouncey (2010) signed his second contract during minicamp in 2014 and defensive end Cameron Heyward (2011) signed his new contract about a week before last year's camp started.

DeCastro, the first-round pick from 2012, enters camp without a long-term contract.

"I'm just trying to play football and let my agent deal with that," DeCastro said. "That's the easiest way for me to deal with it. I have one year left. I know that for sure. That's all I can control."

DeCastro has been shopping for insurance policies just in case he cannot come to terms on a long-term deal. The Steelers are paying DeCastro $8 million this season.

DeCastro's contract negotiation was complicated by the fact that former Ravens guard Kelechi Osemele signed for $11.7 per season with the Raiders, a deal that included a $25.4 signing bonus. The next-highest paid guard is Brandon Brooks of the Eagles, who is making $8 million per season.

"I'm not going to lie," DeCastro said. "I think about it, but at the same time I don't worry about it. It'd be great (if a deal was completed). But at the same time, there are two sides to it. At the end of the day, play the year out and get an insurance policy. I'm prepared on both sides."