Although it appears apparent now, this time one yr in the past, there was a heated debate over whether or not Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive lineman Cam Heyward would and will obtain a contract extension. Coming off his worst season attributable to a groin damage suffered within the 2023 season opener, Heyward was approaching his mid-30s—a time when most gamers, particularly these within the trenches, are steadily declining.
So it was controversial when Pittsburgh prolonged Heyward on a three-year, $45 million contract days earlier than the 2024 season started. Although the deal carried loads of “outs” and safety for the Steelers, it was nonetheless a present of religion in what Heyward may do.
Heyward rewarded the prospect. He roared again with one in every of his finest seasons, ending with 71 tackles and eight sacks together with Professional Bowl and All-Professional honors. Given his place and age, calling it historic isn’t hyperbole.
Reflecting again on the deal, the Steelers’ Director of Professional Scouting mentioned the group’s thought course of and, extra typically, learn how to know when a veteran participant continues to be price paying.
“A pair years in the past, Cam Heyward has been improbable for us,” White instructed Raiders’ beat author Hondo Carpenter on his YouTube channel. “Then he bought injured. When he got here again from damage, he toughed it out. You’re watching him on the finish of the yr, you’re like, how are you? Your efficiency was down since you have been nicked. So is he nicked and nonetheless good? Or is he coming again and going to be a dude?
“Final yr, we gave him cash, we paid him. As a result of he’s Cam Heyward, he’s Mr. Captain. He does all that different stuff proper. He’s an ideal Steeler. He comes again and has one other Professional Bowl season at 35-ish years. We love the man. Love him within the locker room. Does all the opposite stuff proper. Has all of the intangibles, and he can nonetheless play.”
White wasn’t accountable for making the choice, although his function as a professional scout is to judge different potential choices Pittsburgh may have, and if Heyward’s market worth made sense.
Clearly, Heyward the individual helped incentivize Pittsburgh to pay Heyward the participant. An extended-time captain, Walter Payton Man of the Yr award winner, chief, and face of the franchise. Extending Heyward gave him the prospect to be a uncommon “one-helmet” participant, spending his complete profession with the group that drafted him. Given his success in 2024, he has a powerful probability of enjoying out his contract by 2026.
Heyward’s success bolstered his Corridor of Fame possibilities. Previous to 2024, his Canton possibilities felt borderline. With extra accolades so as to add to his resume and shutting in on 90 sacks, he may cement his possibilities with two extra high quality seasons.
Whereas Cam Heyward is an anomaly, White mentioned these are selections each common supervisor and group should make every offseason.
“All that stuff goes by your head whilst you’re balancing it,” White mentioned. “Is that this man nonetheless going, or did he have a nasty yr? Was he nicked? Is he wholesome? And the way does he examine to everybody else across the league, and what do we’ve got to pay that man?”
How nicely groups make these judgment calls contributes to the group’s success. Grasp onto a participant too lengthy or hand out a nasty contract, and it’ll really feel like an anchor across the group’s neck. Pittsburgh has gotten it unsuitable earlier than and can once more sooner or later, however each franchise does. Nonetheless, they nailed it with Cam Heyward, who’s proving to be one in every of soccer’s unicorns.
