Pittsburgh Should Be Smart Not Emotional With Cam Heyward
Michael Longo/For USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK
For decades, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been a franchise led by the strength of their defense. Even during the Ben Roethlisberger era, outside of a four-year stretch when Big Ben played out of his mind, that defense was the defining staple of Steeler teams.
The 2024 version of the Steelers will again be carried by its defense. T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick are at the top of the top at their specific position. In Watt’s case, he is at the top of the NFL regardless of position. Joey Porter Jr. had an incredible rookie season and is well on his way to becoming a legitimate top-10 cornerback. Alex Highsmith is the perfect counterpart to Watt at outside linebacker. All previously mentioned players (minus Porter, who is on a rookie deal) are compensated handsomely.
They are also on the team for the foreseeable future, which isn’t the same for another player who has long been an intrenchant part of this defense. His name is Cam Heyward. Heyward has been a stalwart in Pittsburgh for the last 13 seasons. In three of those seasons, he has accumulated double-digit sacks, including two of the last three. With those types of numbers, a player of Heyward’s caliber entering the last year of his contract would have an extension written all over it.
However, several issues are giving the Black and Gold some pause. The Ohio State product is coming off an injury-marred season. Normally, that’s not such a big deal when the production has been so high in recent years. Where it gets tricky is Heyward is 35 years old. When you combine age, injury, and his $16 million salary, things become complicated.
Heyward sat out of OTAs this year for the first time, as a strategy to get a new deal. He made subtle hints at playing in other places after the season, as he mentioned he wanted to play two more seasons after this one. That would make him 38 at the end of a possible extension. If the Steelers are being smart, that’s not the business they want to be in.
Yes, Heyward is a Steeler through and through. Yes, he will eventually be in the organization’s Hall of Fame. That doesn’t mean you have to make an emotional decision to the detriment of the franchise. Did we learn nothing from Rothlisberger? We saw the last two years of Big Ben. It wasn’t pretty, yet he was still making a top-dollar, money that very well could have gone to younger players that could have been more productive. They must do the same with Heyward.
The Black and Gold also need to get much younger at the defensive line. The average age of their six defensive linemen in the two-deep is 28.5 years of age, with three being 30 and older. While that isn’t ancient, it’s definitely not ideal.
Keeanu Benton had a very productive rookie season and is poised to break out this season. Pittsburgh has also been waiting for three seasons for DeMarvin Leal to break out. Through OTAs, Minicamp, and training camp, it looks like the light has finally come on for Leal.
It’s not that the team from the Steel City can’t use Heyward. It just has to be at the right price. He is in fantasyland if he believes another team would be willing to give him another contract worth $16 a season. It wouldn’t matter if he broke the NFL sack record. 35-year-old defensive linemen don’t get those contracts.
Still, with a good season, it’s not out of the question to sign something like a two-year deal for $12 million with $8 million guaranteed. If he wasn’t willing to accept that, it would be time to part ways with the 13-year veteran. We watched the New England Patriots get rid of guys a year too early versus a year too late and they continued to win Super Bowls. Obviously, it helps to have Tom Brady as your quarterback, but the strategy is sound. Especially when you draft well, which the Steelers have historically done.
Heyward is a pillar in the community. He is an outstanding individual (2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year). He is a Steeler legend. With all that being said, is the Steelers organization being smart, this would be the last year Heyward is in a Steeler uniform.
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