What happened: Metcalf had been scheduled for a $25 million base salary and a $31 million cap hit in 2026. The accounting change spreads the converted salary across the remaining contract years.

Why it matters: The added room gives Pittsburgh more flexibility for signings and other roster costs. The move shifts cap charges into future seasons without reducing Metcalf's total compensation.

What to watch: Watch Pittsburgh's next roster moves and its updated cap ledger before the regular season.