Pittsburgh Steelers DL Cameron Heyward made it very clear yesterday that he wants a new contract. While he acknowledges the reality of the possibility of a 35-year-old lineman just returning from injury making big money, he’s not going to underestimate himself. He spoke about the contract issues for players at his position after reporting to OTAs yesterday.
“I don’t think there’s a whole lot of history behind it, but for me, I don’t want to be like anybody else,” Hayward said, via the team’s website, about older players at his position getting big new contracts. “I feel like I play differently than anybody else in this league. I can run and I can pass. That’s what sets me apart.”
Hayward has a point. His biggest strengths aren’t as obviously diminishing. There’s no question he still has plenty of “old man strength,” and a lot of his game is based on a combination of that strength and intelligence. He’s never been the quickest, most agile, most agile defensive end, so that’s not a big loss for him.
“When you look at powerlifters, my game is based on power and technique, and they’re living into their 40s,” Heyward pointed out. “That’s the research I do behind the scenes, but you never know what’s going to happen. There’s not a lot of history, but I’m here to make history, and I’m here to win another Super Bowl and have a great season.”
Cameron Heyward signed a four-year, $65 million contract extension in 2020. He is scheduled to play the final year of that extension in 2024. The terms of that extension include the $16 million base salary the Steelers owe him this season, but he wants a new contract, though he did not go into details.
Hayward’s last contract carried an average salary of $16.4 million. Is he willing to exceed that amount in his new extension, if at all? He said he wants his contract to reflect his position and that he still considers himself a top-five interior defensive lineman.
But there isn’t much precedent for a 35-year-old defensive lineman signing a multi-year extension, and Hayward has indicated he wants to play three more seasons, which would include a two-year extension and an extension through the 2024 season.
To me, the issue is guarantees: Hayward has seen front offices give TJ Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick guarantees beyond year 1. Will he expect the same despite being past the prime of his career?
Last season was a tough one for Hayward, as he was plagued by a groin injury right from the start of training camp. His performance and statistics bear that out, but he was in top form even before the injury. During the 2022 season, he recorded 74 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, 23 hits, 1 forced fumble and 4 missed passes. If the Steelers believe, like Hayward does, that he is still that player, they may need to find a compromise.
