Four-time first-team All-Pro defensive tackle Cameron Heyward hasn’t participated in team drills at practice for the Pittsburgh Steelers this summer. That’s because Heyward is seeking a new contract after arguably the best campaign of his career at 35 years old.
Heyward addressed his contract situation in front of reporters Monday.
“I’m looking for my contract to be addressed,” Heyward said, via The Pittsburgh Tribune Review’s Chris Adamaski. “When I look around, at my position, I’m like 22nd as a D-tackle, I’m 36th as a D-lineman. I know what I bring to this team and what I’m capable of on and off the field.
“It’s hard for me, after the year that I had, to really justify playing at the number I’m playing at,” Heyward added. “I understand I signed a contract last year. But to be completely honest with you, when I signed that, I told them, ‘When I have an All-Pro year, expect me to come back …
“I think everybody kind of giggled a little bit, but in my head, I used it as motivation to go out there and prove it.”
Heyward also explained that the Steelers asked him to take a pay cut before the 2024 season. That was part of the contract extension the defensive tackle signed last season.
While the deal included a pay decrease, Heyward also received two additional years through his aged-37 season.
Steelers Cameron Heyward Made First Contract Request in February
Heyward’s issue with his contract didn’t become public knowledge until August 7. But the defensive tackle told the media Monday that he approached the Steelers about a new deal in February.
In summary, the defensive tackle said he’s “looking to be valued” with a new deal.
Heyward possesses an average annual salary of $14.5 million on the extension he signed last year. According to Spotrac, that’s tied for 35th among all defensive linemen.
The potential future Hall of Fame defensive lineman badly outplayed that contract amount. Heyward posted 71 combined tackles, including 12 tackles for loss, 20 quarterback hits, eight sacks and 11 pass defenses in 17 games.
Behind those statistics, he made first-team All-Pro for the first time in three years.
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