Steelers' Cam Heyward Endorsed Keeanu Benton: "He Can Be Just As Good As [Javon] Hargrave"

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle, Cameron Heyward was very busy on the social media site X recently. Now that minicamp is over, he has some time on his hands waiting for the team to finalize the extension he wants, and fans are loving it. He did a bit of an ask-and-answer on many topics, including meatballs or meat sauce, and his favorite meal, quarterback sacks. 

He was also asked about some of his past and present teammates, including his likely heir apparent Keeanu Benton. Benton is entering his second year in the league and has received glowing praise from those within the organization. That includes Heyward, who likened the young defender to a former Pro Bowler, Javon Hargrave, when a fan asked about him.

"KB [Keeanu Benton] is really good. Sky the limit! He can be just as good as [Javon] Hargrave was, but there's a lot of work to be like Hargrave," responded Heyward on X.

Hargrave was drafted by the Steelers in the third round in 2016 and spent four seasons with the team before moving on to the Philadelphia Eagles and now the San Francisco 49ers. Like Benton, Hargrave was considered a bit of raw talent, but he has improved every year through hard work and determination. 

He left the Steelers with two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery for a touchdown, 14.5 sacks, and 168 total tackles. He was rewarded for his play with two Pro Bowl nods in Philadelphia. In the 49ers' last Super Bowl appearance he had a sack, a fumble recovery, and six tackles in their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Like Hargrave did, Benton is being praised for his grit. Former Black and Gold defender and current scout, Ike Taylor recently praised Benton as well. He said that he is a huge fan of the young player. Taylor admires how Benton makes the work part of football fun. He reminds him of a kid just playing in the backyard, but he also believes that Benton knows precisely how good he is and expects him to take a big leap in year two. 

When Will Steelers' Cam Heyward's Contract Be Extended?

Heyward has been with the Steelers since he was drafted in 2011 and has been a reliable defensive member. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury at the start of the 2023 season that kept him out for several games. That injury, coupled with his age, 35, is causing some fans to say the team shouldn't extend his contract beyond the 2024 season. 

Entering his 14th season in the NFL, he is the longest-tenured player in the Steel City. Heyward has been very vocal about wanting to be "a one-helmet guy" and close out his career in the black and gold, in the city he considers home. 

Initially, he did not show up for voluntary Organized Team Activities (OTAs), which only fueled the rumor mill's flames even more. That, coupled with his tendency to speak his mind, has made him a bit of a polarizing figure in the city over the past few weeks. Some fans believe Heyward has always been loyal to Pittsburgh, and now is the time to reward him, but other fans were outraged when he joked about going to play in Cleveland. 

Those outraged fans often cite a narrative that Heyward is old and breaking down. While no one can deny Father Time's impact on NFL players, the injury Heyward suffered in 2023 was a fluke that could have happened to anyone. It was also the first time he'd missed any significant playing time since 2016. He did not miss a single game during 2021 and 2022. 

Do you think Benton is ready to take over for Heyward? What do you think about Heyward's current contract situation? Click to comment below. 

#SteelerNation