defensive end With the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cameron Heyward has been a lot of different things. He has been an All-Pro four times, including three times as a member of the first team. In addition, he has six Pro Bowl appearances. He was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year for the 2023 campaign.
However, Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report called Heyward “overpaid” prior to the 2024 NFL season. Indeed, Gagnon declared the defensive end to be the most overpaid member of the Steelers roster at the moment.
Gagnon observed that the effect of the six-time Pro Bowler has clearly decreased since 2021, which makes logical given that he is currently 34 years old. “But in the last season of a four-year, $65.6 million contract, he’ll still command $22.4 million in 2024.”
Heyward is Pittsburgh’s second-most expensive player for the 2024–2025 season with a $22.4 million cap charge. The only player with a larger cap hit is edge rusher T.J. Watt.
With one year left on his previous contract, Heyward inked his $65.6 million extension prior to the 2020 campaign. Heyward had just finished his first-team All-Pro season at the time.
According to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, Heyward would have received the highest average yearly compensation of any defensive player over 30 in NFL history as a result of the $65.6 million agreement.
Heyward was initially worth the cost of the transaction. In 2020, he made the second team All-Pro, and in 2021, he made the first team All-Pro once more. Even though he didn’t play as well in 2022, he still made the Pro Bowl and with 10.5 sacks.
However, Heyward missed the entire 2023 season due to a groin injury. On the first day of training camp, Heyward was complaining of pain in his groin, according to Mark Kaboly of The Athletic. Then in Week 1, he tore the groin off the bone.
Heyward had surgery and completed his 12-week rehabilitation regimen in seven and a half weeks. However, he had changed as a player when he returned.
Heyward concluded the 2023 season with two sacks, six tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits in 11 games. Since 2012, he had never had fewer than three sacks in a season.
In May, Heyward will turn 35. A full recovery from an injury is unlikely at his age. It’s also more probable that he suffers another significant ailment.
