"Bump In Pay": Steelers Expected To Keep And Then Hand Out More Money To Veteran

Managing a locker room is not easy for the Pittsburgh Steelers or any of the other 31 professional teams. Deciding when when to cut, extend, or try and re-sign players always comes at someone else's expense. There is only so much cap space to go around, and only 53 spots on the active roster. This leads to difficult decisions throughout any given year. General Manager Omar Khan will work closely with newly-hired head coach Mike McCarthy to try and make the 2026 version of the franchise better than it has been in years past. There is a lot of talent, but work to be done.

A lot of talk about the team has been focused on the offensive side of the ball with crucial needs at quarterback, wide receiver, and even the interior line. On defense, the unit remains well paid; however, the unit didn't necessarily play up to expectations in 2025. There could be a little shake-up for that group, but no one is quite sure who will be the odd man or men out.

Throughout the 2025 offseason, Cameron Heyward was very quiet and didn't really come up in headlines until it was reported that he was sitting out of training camp with the hopes of getting a new contract. All that he ended up receiving was some bonuses and incentives attached to his compensation. However, he was an All-Pro once again and will likely be looking to get a revised deal this time around.

In a recent mailbag posted to social media, Steelers reporter Mark Kaboly was asked about the veteran defensive lineman and if he will be back playing in Pittsburgh in 2025, despite coaching changes all over the place. The insider made it clear that not only is Heyward expected to return to the team, but he also could finally get some more money on top of that.

"Heyward will be back, and they might actually give him a bump in pay," Kaboly wrote. "You have to anticipate the scheme will change (to a degree) because the entire defensive staff changed. It would be crazy if it stayed the same, to be honest."

Heyward didn't get to the quarterback much in 2025, posting just three and a half sacks, but he clogged up the line of scrimmage and was great against the run. He's always been viewed as a one-helmet guy, so it will be intriguing to see if he just wants more money in 2026, or if he desires an extension past his current contract. Pittsburgh may be hesitant to give big money to soon-to-be 37-year-old, regardless of who he has or how productive he has been.

The Steelers will have plenty of cap space and could even create more with cuts and extensions. The money will be there for Heyward; it's just a matter of what the front office wants to do with it. It's fair to say that the four-time All-Pro deserves some kind of extra compensation as he has out-played his current deal. It's also fair to note that the NFL is a business and Pittsburgh has some serious decisions to make about one of the best players for the franchise in the 21st century.

Steelers' Draft May Indicate Plans For Heyward

Everyone is aware that Pittsburgh needs more help at the wide receiver position. Defensively, linebacker, cornerback and safety come to mind. However, the defensive line could use some help, too. If the front office heavily invests in the position during the 2026 NFL Draft and Heyward doesn't have a new contract by then, the writing could be on the wall. After another great season, Heyward and his camp are not going to go down without a fight when it comes down to his compensation.

Do you think that the Steelers need to extend and/or bump up Heyward's pay? Let us know in the comments below!

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