Cameron Heyward has been pondering retirement for a while now. It’s just that point in his career. He turns 35 this spring and has had 13 (mostly) wildly successful seasons. There’s no question he could retire with his head held high.
But in the meantime, Heyward is owed a hefty salary in 2024 — to the tune of $16 million. With a $6.40 million bonus, the $22.40 million cap hit is 9.2% of Pittsburgh’s total cap space. He’s the second-highest-paid player after T.J. Watt.
Mark Kaboly, Steelers insider for The Athletic, thinks Heyward will get a contract extension.
“I can see him being extended before I can see him being released,” he wrote in a recent mailbag. “I admit, he’s struggled this year, but a lot of that has to do with his injury and subsequent recovery from surgery.”
“Heyward loves this game too much to quit now, and no way in hell are the Steelers cutting a player who has meant so much to them over the years. [Owner Art] Rooney would rather eat that salary than cut him.”
But ask Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu if they “meant so much” to the Steelers at the end of their careers and wanted to continue playing. If they don’t extend him, they could force him to retire like they did Ward and Polamalu.
Like Ward and Polamalu, it’s tough to imagine Heyward putting on any other jersey but the Black and Gold. If they were to approach him about being released, it seems he’d much rather call it a career.
Heyward is only one season removed from 10.5 sacks, so it’s not impossible to think if he returns in 2024, he could still make an impact.
Until his future is decided, Heyward and the Pittsburgh Steelers have only one focus: Beat the Buffalo Bills.
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