Steelers Signing DL Cameron Heyward To Four-Year, $71.4M Extension

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that the Steelers and veteran DL Cameron Heyward finalizing a four-year extension with a total value of $71.4 million on Sunday.

Fowler says that in total, the contract comes out to five years, $75.1 million and includes $65.6 million in new money.  

Heyward indicated on his Twitter account that a deal could be close:

Pittsburgh is where I belong! pic.twitter.com/mMj3DbKm4T

— Cam Heyward (@CamHeyward) September 7, 2020

There were some questions about whether Heyward would be playing elsewhere in 2021, but it appears as though both sides stepped up to get this contract done before Week 1. 

It’s worth mentioning that the Steelers have a strict policy of not negotiating new contracts with players during the season. 

Heyward, 31, is a former first-round pick of the Steelers back in 2011. He’s entering the final year of his six-year, $59.2 million contract that included $15 million guaranteed.

Heyward was set to make a base salary of $9.5 million in 2020.

In 2019, Heyward started all 16 games for the Steelers and recorded 83 tackles, nine sacks, one forced fumble, a recovery and six pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 2 interior defender out of 117 qualifying players.