Ahead of the official start of the NFL’s new year on Wednesday, many seem to believe that veteran left guard Isaac Seumalo will depart the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency after three seasons.
At 33 years old and having dealt with numerous lingering injuries in recent years, it would make some sense that the Steelers allow Seumalo to walk.
Now, thanks to a move by the Houston Texans, that price tag for Seumalo appears set in free agency.
According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Texans re-signed guard Ed Ingram to a three-year, $37.5 million deal, which is $12.5 million per season. That move sets the market at the guard position ahead of free agency.
According to Texans reporter and NFL insider Aaron Wilson, Ingram’s deal includes $23.5 million in guaranteed money.
#Texans work overtime to hold onto offensive guard Ed Ingram on a three-year, $37.5 million contract that includes $23.5 million guaranteed, per league sources, getting deal done right before start of legal tampering period. @KPRC2
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 9, 2026
Ingram played 929 regular-season snaps in 2025, grading out at 71.5 overall from Pro Football Focus. He allowed 24 pressures and four sacks and then was decent in the postseason. In 143 playoff snaps, Ingram graded out at 78.3 overall, allowing six pressures and one sack as the Texans made it to the divisional round.
That solid season had the Texans eager to re-sign him, especially after trading Tytus Howard to the Cleveland Browns last week. Houston doing so also sets the market for Seumalo.
Though Seumalo battled through a pectoral injury all last season, one year after dealing with something similar in 2024, he played in 14 of 17 games and was a solid starter. He played 770 snaps for the Steelers last season, grading out at a 74.8 from PFF.
He was charged with just 15 pressures and three sacks, but he did come apart down the stretch. Seumalo gave up two pressures and a sack in the regular-season finale before allowing five pressures and a sack in the Steelers’ Wild Card loss to the Texans.
Despite the tough close to the season, Seumalo is one of the top pending free agents along the offensive line. PFF ranks him as the No. 1 guard available, and projected Seumalo to land a one-year, $8 million deal on the open market.
Ingram’s extension obviously blows that Seumalo projection out of the water. He has a lot of wear and tear on him, but he remains a high-end starter. That should lead to a nice contract on the open market, one that probably prices him out of Pittsburgh.
Behind him, the Steelers have Spencer Anderson, who has pushed for a starting role in recent years. GM Omar Khan spoke highly of Anderson at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, so Pittsburgh could have some comfort turning to Anderson at left guard in 2026.
