Steelers’ Cam Heyward Will Not Get A New Deal From Pittsburgh Until He Gets Back On The Field

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Cam Heyward in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and over his 13 seasons with the team, he has been a key player. Beyond his performance on the field, Heyward has made a notable impact in the community, generously contributing to the city of Pittsburgh. His exemplary behavior and commitment to community service earned him the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for the 2023 season.

Recently, Heyward made headlines by announcing his decision to skip the upcoming Organized Team Activities (OTAs) as he seeks a new contract. This development surprised Steelers fans, marking the first time in his distinguished career that he has chosen to opt out of these voluntary sessions. Steelers reporter Ray Fittipaldo provided further insights into the situation during his appearance on The PM Team on 93.7 The Fan on Thursday, exploring potential responses from the Steelers to Heyward’s contract negotiations.

"From a business perspective, I don't think it's really smart for the Steelers to do a long-term deal now, but this is kind of a special situation with Cam. Longtime veteran, Walter Payton Man of The Year Award winner, good community guy. So there's a couple different layers to this. From a football and business perspective, I think 100 times out of 100, the team's gonna sit back and see how he comes back from that injury before they throw out any new money to him.” 

Heyward has been a formidable defensive tackle for the Steelers, but as he approaches the latter part of his career, the financial implications of his contract have come into focus. He signed a substantial four-year deal worth $65.6 million, which included a $17.5 million signing bonus. In the 2024 season, Heyward's contract will account for over $22 million against the salary cap. This has led some fans to suggest that he should consider a pay cut to free up funds for younger talent on the team.

However, Heyward has not taken kindly to the notion of reducing his salary. Despite battling injuries, he has consistently performed at a high level. As he enters the twilight of his career, the typical NFL strategy might be to shy away from investing heavily in a veteran. Yet, Fittipaldo emphasized, Heyward is not just any player—the organization holds him in extremely high regard, and the prospect of him finishing his career outside of Pittsburgh seems almost unthinkable.

The Steelers might opt to wait and see how Heyward performs in the 2024 season before making any long-term financial commitments. This cautious approach seems prudent, but it appears that Heyward might continue to stay away from the team until a new deal is reached. If the Steelers are reluctant to meet his terms within his preferred timeframe, this could lead to potential trade scenarios, especially since Heyward will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2024 season.

Steelers' Cam Heyward Had A Less Productive 2023 Because Of Injury

During the 2023 season, Heyward was limited to just 11 games due to a groin injury he sustained in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. He returned to action in Week 9. Despite his time away from the field, he managed to accumulate 33 tackles and two sacks. While his performance wasn't as dominant as in previous years, his reduced effectiveness can largely be attributed to the ongoing challenges of recovering from his injury.

This offseason, Heyward underwent surgery and is now fully recovered. He is determined to prove his critics wrong and those who suggest he should accept a pay cut. Heading into 2024, he is highly motivated to demonstrate his value. Steelers fans are hopeful that he will continue his career in Pittsburgh and that the organization will secure a new contract that benefits both Heyward and the team.