The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cam Heyward do not seem close on a contract resolution. ESPN’s Adam Schefter said the Steelers do not seem eager to pay the star defensive tackle, and that has led to some friction in the relationship.
“The two sides have not bridged any of their differences. And it seems like the Steelers don’t want to pay him right now,” Schefter said on NFL Live.
Heyward, who is the 22nd highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL, says he talked to the team in late February that he would like a new deal. In Heyward’s own words, he just wants to be valued relative to the market that has continued to soar.
“I’m honestly looking to be valued. When I look around at my position, as a D-Tech, I’m 36 as a D-Lineman. I know what I bring to this team and what I’m capable of on and off the field. It’s hard for me to have it after the year I’m done to really justify playing at the number I’m playing at,” Heyward said.
The biggest rebuttal to Heyward getting a new deal is that he signed a deal and should honor it. For the Steelers, there was no guaranteed money past the 2024 season, though Heyward received a roster bonus in March once he was not released.
A first-team All-Pro in 2024, Heyward wants his pay to reflect how he played on the field. Getting a one-year pay raise would seem to satisfy what he is asking.
Heyward has a roster bonus of $12.95 million next year, and the Steelers could push some of that money forward to allow Heyward to land that money early, thus increasing his pay for the season.
He acknowledged that it is something the Steelers and he have talked about, and would be something he is open to doing.
On top of that, if this does not get resolved, Heyward said he is prepared for anything that might come, including the potential of sitting out games.
“I think there are definitely options out there that could reflect that,” Heyward said when asked if he would be willing to miss games.
Head coach Mike Tomlin has no worries that Heyward will miss games, just like defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said it was not a distraction to have the contract looming overhead.
Heyward continues to be out at practice and be around the young defensive lineman, but will not go through drills until it is resolved.
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