Cameron Heyward has been with the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2011, when the staff chosen him with the thirty first decide of that 12 months’s draft. Since then, he is amassed 718 tackles, 199 quarterback hits 88.5 sacks, 8 pressured fumbles, and seven fumble recoveries in 211 common season video games. The defensive sort out can also be a four-time first-team All-Professional and has made it to seven Professional Bowls. He achieved each of these honors final season—and he desires to receives a commission for it.
The tough state of affairs is that Heyward simply signed a contract extension with the Steelers lower than a 12 months in the past, in September 2024. That deal was for $29 million over two seasons. When he signed it, Heyward obtained a $13.45 million roster bonus for 2025, so he’ll get a minimum of $14.75 million. Assuming he stays on the roster, he’ll obtain one other $12.95 million as a roster bonus on March 15, the fifth day of the league 12 months in 2026.
Heyward missed six video games throughout the 2023 season, so the staff requested him to take a pay lower. Below his previous deal, he would have made $16 million in base wage final season. As a substitute, he made $12.6 million ($1.3 million in base wage and a signing bonus of $11.3 million). It doesn’t matter what business you are in, a discount of over 21% in your wages is difficult to deal with.
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The $14.5 million common annual worth for Heyward’s deal locations him twenty third amongst inside defensive linemen. In comparison with different key gamers even inside the AFC, Heyward feels he is getting paid lower than he is price. Chris Jones of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs will get $95 million assured and averages $31.75 million per 12 months. Zach Allen of the Denver Broncos just signed a four-year extension price $102 million and $69.5 million assured.
Heyward stated one of many causes he renegotiated the deal in 2024 was as a result of he believed he’d have an All-Professional season, and the contract can be worthy of a re-examination (and ideally a pay increase). However thus far, the Steelers have not budged on their quantity. And Heyward, who’s taking part in a hold-in by attending coaching camp however not training, is probably prepared to sit down out the beginning of the season till a deal is completed.
At coaching camp, Heyward stated “there are undoubtedly choices on the market” about lacking video games. Nevertheless, he added, “My objective is to be out right here, and I do not know what is going on to occur.”
In an ideal state of affairs, Heyward and the Steelers can comply with a deal and deal with what’s taking place on the sector. However Heyward would possibly wish to seize some comfortable sweats for the sideline, simply in case.
