There were expected to be a lot of changes for the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2025 offseason. Fans expected some of these to come quickly after a five-game losing streak to end the 2024 campaign, but it has been quiet in the Steel City ever since a playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens. If Head Coach Mike Tomlin did not want to alter his staff much, the organization should hopefully be looking to make several adjustments to a roster that is simply not talented enough to compete in an AFC that is full of firepower. This will likely lead to several cuts and then additions.
One area that the Steelers need to find a way to reinvent themselves in is the offense. No one is sure just yet what will come out of the quarterback situation, but there is an overwhelming belief that the unit needs to be more talented, and much more formidable. While more big names with better skill sets are needed, it might also be important to bolster the depth of the group in case injuries occur.
This is where Omar Khan could get to work and make some difficult decisions over the next couple of months. An interesting position is at tight end, where Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward all remain under contract for 2025. Despite being a sixth-round pick and still on his rookie deal, releasing Heyward would generate roughly $1.1 million in cap relief.
It has been fun over the last few years for fans to watch Connor and his brother, Cameron Heyward, compete on the same team. Unfortunately, that could be coming to an end, similarly to how the Steelers eventually made the decision to no longer have Derek Watt around on the same roster as brother TJ Watt. In a Wednesday fan chat for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Gerry Dulac was asked about the futures of both MyCole Pruitt (not under contract for 2025) and Connor Heyward (one year left on his deal).
"Well, they might be changing the locks...," Dulac wrote.
This would be insinuating that both of those tight ends won't be welcomed back in 2025. Connor Heyward has had a couple of great moments in the black and gold, but is mainly used as a special teams asset. If the organization believes that it can get that kind of production elsewhere, it could make sense to release Connor Heyward and move on to a different option.
There is a lot that goes into making decisions at the NFL level for every front office. There is always one main reality that comes to the surface. At the end of the day, the front office and ownership group are running a business. Feelings and relationships shouldn't be getting in the way of decisions that need to be made that better the overall trajectory of the franchise.
Connor Heyward could be a small cap casualty if the team sees that his role could be filled by a rookie, or perhaps a free agent. For example, if there is a special teams veteran that could provide a little bit more of a spark on offense if needed, then the individual who could end up being expendable might end up being the fourth-year tight end. Time will tell, but the Heyward brothers playing with one another could soon no longer be doable in the Steel City.
Steelers Need To Initiate Several Personnel Changes During The 2025 Offseason
It won't just be the tight end position that is altered in Pittsburgh. The depth chart could look significantly different in the coming months, which would be welcomed by a fan base that is looking for some more consistency and firepower. Despite the fun reality of the Heyward brothers living out their dreams together, the relationship between the organization and the younger one could be coming to an end.
