Brooke Pryor
LATROBE, Pa. — Longtime Pittsburgh Steelers defensive captain Cameron Heyward, amid a hold-in, strongly urged Monday he can be prepared to overlook regular-season video games as he seeks to renegotiate a contract extension signed in 2024.
“There are positively choices on the market that would replicate that,” he stated in his first public feedback since ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Heyward's hold-in and contract request final week.
He added: “My purpose is to be out right here, and I do not know what is going on to occur. I've needed to be sincere with myself to be prepared for each choice. And has it gone the best way I wished to go? No. If it did, I'd be on the market taking part in and working towards, however I would wish to put this within the rearview mirror and fear about ball and fear about [the] New York Jets [in] Week 1.
Heyward, drafted No. 31 by the Steelers in 2011, stated his formal request to renegotiate his contract dates again to February. He determined to start holding in and never collaborating in camp practices late final week partly due to the state of negotiations.
“I am seeking to be valued. … I do know what I deliver to this crew and what I am able to on and off the sphere, so it is arduous for me, after the 12 months I've had, to actually justify taking part in on the quantity I am taking part in at.”
Cameron Heyward
“Cannot say I am not dissatisfied in the place we're at,” he stated. “I believe it is fairly easy with the way it may very well be dealt with. There's been reporting about the way it may very well be accomplished, however I simply want I may simply be on the market not having to fret about this.”
Heyward, 36, signed a two-year, $29 million extension with the Steelers in September 2024, placing him beneath contract by means of the 2026 season. In line with OverTheCap.com, his contract's $14.5 million common annual worth is ranked twenty third for inside defensive linemen.
“I am seeking to be valued,” Heyward stated. “… I do know what I deliver to this crew and what I am able to on and off the sphere, so it is arduous for me, after the 12 months I've had, to actually justify taking part in on the quantity I am taking part in at.
“I perceive. I signed a contract final 12 months, however to be fully sincere with you, once I signed that, I informed him when I've an All-Professional 12 months anticipating me to return again and you'll take a look at the contract and see what it was. However I believe everyone sort of giggled somewhat bit, however in my head, I used it as motivation to go on the market and show it.”
Heyward did simply that, incomes first-team All-Professional honors for a 12 months during which he performed in all 17 regular-season video games and picked up eight sacks, 20 quarterback hits and 71 mixed tackles. He was dominant on the line of scrimmage, too, main all defensive linemen with 11 passes defended.
As a part of the 2024 deal, Heyward obtained a $13.45 million assured roster bonus for 2025 to deliver his whole compensation for the 12 months to $14.75 million. Heyward is ready to earn a $12.95 million roster bonus on the fifth day of the league 12 months in 2026 if he stays on the roster. Heyward's contract would not have any assured cash past this season.
Heyward did not make his particular requests public, however when requested if he want to restructure subsequent 12 months's bonus into ensures for the 2025 season, Heyward stated that is one thing “comparable” to what he is desirous about.
“It isn't unprecedented,” he stated. “There's been situations the place it is occurred earlier than, and it makes me sort of weary simply because it isn't unprecedented, and I believe there's a better approach to get this accomplished to nonetheless respect the Steelers and what they do and having tiers out of a contract, however we'll see.”
Coming off an harm that shortened his 2023 season, Heyward stated he was requested to take a pay reduce as a part of the 2024 extension. Heyward had been scheduled to make a $16 million base wage in 2024. By agreeing to the extension, he made $3.4 million much less in 2024 — $12.6 million with a $1.3 million base wage and an $11.3 million signing bonus.
“In my eyes once I take a look at it, they might have reduce me final 12 months,” he stated. “The way in which I used to be approached, I used to be requested to take a pay reduce, and we ended up getting a deal accomplished. However once I take a look at the market, and I take a look at what I've accomplished, it is arduous to actually wrap my head round taking part in at a quantity the place I am not even half of what the remainder of the market is.”
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones is on the prime of the inside line of defense market, making a median of $31.75 million per 12 months with $95 million assured. Earlier this month, Denver Broncos defensive lineman Zach Allen, who turns 28 this month, signed a four-year, $102 million contract with $69.5 million assured and a median worth of $25.5 million.
Heyward stated he has continued to have conversations with common supervisor Omar Khan, crew president and proprietor Artwork Rooney II, and coach Mike Tomlin. After Monday's observe, Tomlin dismissed considerations about Heyward's future availability, saying, “not as I sit right here right now, no.”
“It is only a part of massive enterprise,” Tomlin stated of Heyward's state of affairs. “It isn't unique to us or to Cam. It is occurring in loads of areas. The wonderful thing about it's we have had good relations with Cam since he is been right here. He is been a heck of a Steeler. We talk formally and informally. I think about it will stay the identical, and we'll discover a approach to see our approach by means of this stuff.”
