Cameron Heyward looks like he'll suit up for Week 1 for the Pittsburgh Steelers against the New York Jets.
That doesn't mean he's happy, though. Heyward has made it clear he wants a raise.
ESPN's Dan Graziano wrote on Thursday that Heyward's unresolved contract situation is worth watching, given that the star defensive tackle makes about half of what the other top players at his position make ($13.25 million compared to the $25-26 million range).
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"Heyward adjusted his contract last year, and as a result his 2025 salary of $13.25 million is about half of what the top defensive tackles in the league earn," Graziano writes. "He has been practicing but also made it clear he wants a raise. This could get resolved before Sunday's opener, and the relationship between the team and their 14-year veteran mainstay is strong enough that it's hard to imagine him sitting out the game. But as with any player, his leverage only increases if he forces the team to confront life without him -- especially with rookie first-rounder Derrick Harmon set to sit out Sunday's game because of an injury. The Steelers probably could resolve this by adding some cash and reachable incentives. Until then, it's worth keeping an eye on."
Heyward is 36 years old now but is still a team leader and a great player on the interior of the Steelers' defensive line.
He watched his teammate T.J. Watt get a huge payday this offseason, and now he seems to want one of his own. The irony, of course, is that Heyward just signed a new deal last year.
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Heyward made the Pro Bowl last season with 8.0 sacks and 71 combined tackles, a ridiculous year for a mid-30s DT.
Will he get paid as a reward? That remains to be seen.
The Steelers open the season Sunday against the New York Jets. Heyward will be key against the athletic former Pittsburgh QB Justin Fields. How key? More than his contract suggests, it seems.
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