It is no secret Steelers defensive lineman and workforce chief Cam Heyward needs a brand new deal. However on Monday, he confirmed up at OTAs after skipping the primary two weeks to ship a message as he enters the ultimate yr of a four-year, $65.6 million deal he signed in 2020.
When requested if there’s been any progress, Heyward was sincere whereas chatting with reporters after OTAs.
“There’s been communication, however there’s nothing to actually report on that proper now,” he stated on Monday. “I don’t assume a deal will get achieved tomorrow; I’ll let you know that. However, you realize, there’s been communication, and we’ll see the place it takes us.”
Whereas Heyward displaying up did spark pleasure amongst followers and is a optimistic check in terns of his relationship with the one NFL franchise he is ever identified, there’s purpose to marvel if the Steelers caving and lengthening the 35-year-old Walter Payton Man of the Yr is definitely smart.
It doesn’t matter what Heyward says, a deal will possible get achieved. In any case, Heyward does nonetheless provide worth to Pittsburgh, each on and off the sphere. Nevertheless, what precisely would the Steelers be paying for?
In a league with a wage cap, franchises want to make sure they’re paying for future manufacturing and never only a resume from the previous. Heyward has been the one fixed all through a Steelers period that is been stuffed with way more drama than playoff wins.
After being drafted within the first spherical of the 2011 NFL Draft, Heyward arrived shortly after the Steelers misplaced XLV. And from that time on, Heyward has solely participated in a single playoff win: the 2015 AFC Wild Card recreation in opposition to the Bengals. Regardless of the shortage of postseason success, Heyward is a three-time first-team All-Professional and a six-time Professional Bowler. He has a Corridor of Fame case.
Heyward has additionally been clear about eager to win that elusive ring, however shelling out large cash to Heyward into his late 30’s might hinder the Steelers’ probabilities to win a title.
That is all coming at a nasty time for Heyward, too. After enjoying each recreation in back-to-back classes, he’s coming off a season by which he recorded 33 tackles in solely 11 video games performed. Father Time is undefeated and Heyward isn’t going to get higher and more healthy with age, irrespective of what number of occasions he says his most up-to-date damage is behind him. Heyward might very effectively be hitting the interval of his profession that sees him want day off so as to be efficient.
Like most groups, the Steelers can have loads of choices to make within the coming years. For as a lot as individuals debate the higher choice at quarterback, neither Russell Wilson nor Justin Fields are locked up past 2024. The Steelers may also must resolve if to present Najee Harris a brand new contact. And George Pickens may have a brand new deal as effectively. That is simply on offense.
The extra the Steelers pay Heyward, the much less they’ve for the opposite a lot youthful stars. To make sure preserving a few their key contributors and nonetheless having room for brand spanking new additions, it could be time to inform Heyward, that whereas having him round for the remainder of his profession can be good, there is a restrict to the type of cash he can maintain in opposition to the wage cap.
