The Pittsburgh Steelers have spent the 2024 offseason upgrading the team's roster on both sides of the ball. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields were brought in to give the offense some stability, and Patrick Queen will be wearing black and gold after playing for the Baltimore Ravens. One area that many believe hasn't been addressed yet is the defensive line, and Cameron Heyward's contract issues haven't made that any easier.
Heyward, who has played for the Steelers for 13 seasons, missed the first two weeks of Pittsburgh's 2024 Organized Team Activities (OTAs) as he sought a new contract extension. The request for a guarantee has been polarizing among fans and the media, considering that Heyward is 35 years old and coming off a season that saw him miss six games with injuries.
Mark Kaboly of The Athletic, while on The Joe Starkey Show on 93.7 The Fan, was asked whether he could see Heyward retiring in the manner of Ben Roethlisberger or Hines Ward, but he doesn't see this situation playing out the same way.
"No, 'cause I think he's proud enough that he would almost take offense to, 'Okay, they don't think I still have it? They don't want me?' -- this is if they don't want him, and they say, 'Okay, we're moving on from you,' [then] 'I'll go show you. I'll go to [X] team and show that I can still ball out,' but I think that's all predicated on the Steelers saying, 'Okay, sorry, Cam, we're just moving on from you.'"
With 2024 being Heyward's 14th professional season, the veteran defensive lineman finds himself in the same territory as Roethlisberger (18 seasons), Ward (14 seasons) and Troy Polamalu (12 seasons).
Similar to Heyward's situation, none of those three Pittsburgh greats wanted their respective careers to end, but an inability to find common ground with the Steelers ended up determining how things played out. Heyward hasn't shown any desire to hang up his cleats, even if Pittsburgh isn't where he ends up playing following the 2024 campaign.
Prior to his injury-shortened 2023 season, Heyward had proven that he could remain healthy and on the field, missing only two starts since 2017. As he ages, the defender has actually played better, with six consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2017 to 2022 and three All-Pro nods. If he hadn't dealt with a painful groin injury during 2023, his previous two seasons (2021-2022) were incredibly productive (20.5 sacks) and would have been leverage towards the extension he is now seeking.
Pittsburgh doesn't negotiate contracts during the season, so Heyward has the team's 2024 training camp to prove to the Steelers that he deserves the risk of a hefty new contract at his age. While Heyward may not end up going to the Cleveland Browns if an agreement isn't reached, depending on how 2024 plays out, he might have his pick of suitors.
Steelers Still Need Heyward
If Pittsburgh had reliable depth behind Heyward on the defensive line, the contract disputes would most likely be leaning in the Steelers' favor. However, other than second-year standout Keeanu Benton, the defensive trenches don't have many surefire players on the roster. DeMarvin Leal hasn't made the positive impact the team hoped he would after spending a third-round draft pick on the former Texas A&M lineman, and rookie Logan Lee hasn't played a single snap in the NFL yet.
Isaiahh Loudermilk hasn't done much in his three seasons with the Steelers, with only five starts in the forty-two games he suited up for. Montravius Adams is on his third NFL team in seven years, and while he has played on a rotational basis, so far, the Steelers haven't been given a reason to increase his workload.
Dean Lowry and Breiden Fehoko will be battling for a spot on the roster, although neither has been able to find a permanent role during their professional careers. There is a great deal of hope that Heyward can get back to his usual self, but if Pittsburgh doesn't get consistent production on the line as a whole, the decision on Heyward's future will be all the more important.
