Pittsburgh Steelers leader Cameron Heyward tagged with ominous designation.
Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward boasts an impressive resume with the Pittsburgh Steelers, having earned four All-Pro selections, including three first-team nods, and making six Pro Bowl appearances. Additionally, he clinched the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year award for the 2023 season.
However, as the 2024 NFL season approaches, Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon has labeled Heyward as overvalued, dubbing him the most overpaid player on the Steelers’ current roster. Gagnon points out a noticeable decline in Heyward’s performance dating back to 2021, particularly given his age of 34. Despite this, Heyward is set to command a hefty $22.4 million in the final year of his four-year, $65.6 million contract, making him the second-highest-paid player on the Steelers’ roster for 2024, just behind edge rusher T.J. Watt.
Heyward inked his extension before the 2020 season with one year left on his previous deal. At the time, this extension made him the highest-paid defensive player over 30 in NFL history, as reported by ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. Initially, Heyward lived up to the expectations of the deal with stellar performances in 2020 and 2021, but his form dipped in 2022, and he faced a challenging 2023 season due to a persistent groin injury that required surgery.
Despite efforts to recover quickly, Heyward’s performance suffered, tallying just 2 sacks, 6 tackles for loss, and 3 quarterback hits in 11 games, a significant drop from his usual standards. With Heyward turning 35 soon, concerns arise about his ability to fully bounce back from injury and avoid further health setbacks.
Speculation circulated that Heyward might retire, but he expressed determination to regain fitness for the upcoming season. However, pundits suggest Heyward might need to accept a pay cut to stay with the Steelers in 2024, or the team could release him and save $16 million against the salary cap. Alternatively, there’s talk of restructuring his contract to alleviate the cap burden, but no decisions have been made yet.
Despite his status as one of the franchise’s greats and recent off-field recognition, the Steelers’ hesitation to renegotiate Heyward’s deal implies uncertainty about his future contributions beyond the age of 35. For now, it seems the Steelers are prepared to accept Heyward’s high salary for the 2024 season, acknowledging the challenges ahead.
