Training camp is nearly upon us, and the Pittsburgh Steelers and Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward have still not reached an agreement on a contract extension. Heyward has made it public that he wants a new deal, but the Steelers do not seem to biting at the chance to resign their star defensive tackle.

Heyward is entering his 14 season in the league and has been a life-long Steeler, with the organization always extending him well before his contract would expire. However, we are now in the year 2024 and Heyward is in his mid-30s and coming off an injury riddled 2023 campaign that saw him miss the most games in a season since 2016. Heyward only played in 11 games last year, recording two sacks, 33 total tackles and six tackles for loss.

If a deal is not done before the season, then the Steelers would not extend him during the season with their track record of rarely doing it in the past even for their biggest stars.

One of the biggest things holding an extension back seems to be the difference in length of a deal between the two parties. Heyward seems to be seeking a multi-year deal wanting a more secure deal towards the end of his career, while the Steelers organization seem to be closer towards just signing Heyward to a one-year deal pending on the fact that he may retire after this season or the next.

Heyward has shown up to multiple OTAs and the mandatory minicamps which is a show of his great character and leadership skills he brings to not only the locker room, but the organization as well. Heyward is a hometown kid, being born in Pittsburgh, and throughout his time in the organization has been one of the most giving players not only on the Steelers, but in the entire league.

Heyward won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2023 he has also been elected to six Pro Bowls and been named to the All-Pro team three times.

The Steelers have been slowly drafting for this sort of situation, drafting defensive linemen like Keeanu Benton, DeMarvin Leal and most recently Logan Lee in the 2024 Draft.

Official training camps for the Steelers start on July 24 at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.