Two years ago, Pittsburgh Steelers left tackle Alejandro Villanueva earned a new contract from the team as he was entering his third season. Not a contract extension, because he had no rookie deal. He was an exclusive rights free agent, a tender that he never signed. He was given $24 million over four years.
Now, cornerback Mike Hilton is hoping to get a new contract this summer as an exclusive rights free agent, and he admitted that he has talked to Villanueva a number of times about his own situation from two years ago.