Cam Heyward wants a new deal

[Troglodyte]

And the players should include in the next CBA fully guaranteed contracts. They are idiots for not having done this yet. The owners would absolutely hate it, but no players = no league…so while a short protest lockout would likely happen, the owners would cave as they start losing money.

With a salary cap, guaranteed contracts would hurt more players than they would help as teams would be even more limited in how creative they could be in signing players. Daniel Snyder learned this the hard way when he tried to buy a championship in Washington.

There are plenty of football players willing to play in the NFL.

One way to fix this crap-just call a contract a contract…fully guaranteed for the duration and zero negotiations unless the team offers a raise before the expiration of the contract.

There’s no negotiation part to current contracts.

The paper the NFL writes under the guise of calling them “contracts” is a joke.

And Cam is a jackasstronaut for trying this maneuver AFTER taking his 13.75 guaranteed this year.

Players would still try to renegotiate with fully guaranteed contracts.

 

[Frosty]

Seems like there's more to this than just renegotiating his deal.

 

[steelcan58]

Hey Cam. It's time to ask you - do you want to be a Steeler or not! Leaders can't be hypocrites. If you're going to talk the talk, you have to walk the walk.

 

[TDX27]

Didn't read all the posts, but Cam needs to honor the great contract he just received from the Steelers. No one else was going to pay a mid-30s guy that kind of coin. The Steelers did him right, and now he is doing them wrong. He is no different. We don't want hostages, so don't let the door hit you in the ***.

The team and fans have loved Cam, and now he is shiznitting all over the team, his teammates, and the fans. Don't give him another dime and start fining him $100k for every day he doesn't practice.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Hey Cam. It's time to ask you - do you want to be a Steeler or not! Leaders can't be hypocrites. If you're going to talk the talk, you have to walk the walk.

Cam thinks he is worth more due to his last season of play.

My thinking is

1) keep his current contract that has already paid him money

2) Install and adder clause filled with stepped incentive based pay.

3). Total add in money could add $4-6mil to his pay if he reaches full incentives.
3b). Yes, make some incentives team success based, causing him to have to actually be a team leader and keep the team focused…….

4) Same stepped incentive pay for next year as well.


This would somewhat protect the Steelers, but also let Cam know that he has to put up or shut up. He guarantees his play so to speak…





Salute the nation

 

[slashsteel]

I think it sets a bad precedent, he just signed a new deal last year, now he wants more. Is every player that going to do this now.

Is he the equivalent of every player or do you treat your top players with a little extra?

 

[Coryea]

Is he the equivalent of every player or do you treat your top players with a little extra?

No not yet, but if you bend for him, then Boz, you're setting that precedent.
I think giving him a 3 year 45 million dollar extension at the age of 35 coming off a 2 sack season like they did last year at this time is the definition of treating your top players with a little extra

 

[Shane Falco]

Cam and a 3rd to Dallas for Micah Paraons or to the Commando’s for McLauren?

 

[SteelerFan448]

No not yet, but if you bend for him, then Boz, you're setting that precedent.
I think giving him a 3 year 45 million dollar extension at the age of 35 coming off a 2 sack season like they did last year at this time is the definition of treating your top players with a little extra

The Boz situation is tough because of the precedent, but again, it would only be another $1-1.5 million. I could see both sides.

In the last two years, 7 DTs signed contracts larger than Heyward's new deal. Of those 7, only one was 30+ at the age of signing (DeForest Buckner was 30 years old and signed a deal worth an average of $23 million).

Looking at other players 32+ at the age of their signing since 2024:
-Geno Smith, QB, 37 $37.5 million per year (62.5% of highest QB deal) 0 17th highest
-Jake Matthews, LT, 33, $22.5 million per year (78.9% of highest LT deal) - 7th highest
-Garrett Bolles, LT, 32 $20.5 million per year (71.9% of highest LT deal) - 11th highest
-Khalil Mack, EDGE, 34 $18 million per year (43.9% of highest EDGE deal) - 17th highest
-Cam Heyward, IDL, $14.5 million per year (45.7% of highest IDL deal) - 23rd highest


Heyward's age combined with only 11 games played looked like a like a fair deal for both sides. The problem is the low end of this market is probably $22 million per year, but that's also for a DT in their prime. He's also performing at a high level and compared to other older players who actually signed big deals, he's on the low end.

Do they just give one or both the AB treatment when he got more money with two years left on his deal?

 

[TDX27]

Cam is 36. He will be 37 (would be 38 if they extend him beyond what he already signed) when his current contract ends. The only thing I would do is maybe move more money as guaranteed/bonus. They've done that with other players. I would not extend him at this point. He has 2 years left on this contract. It would be foolish to extend him now, as his play could drop off a cliff at any minute at his age. If you resign him, it will be for 1 year at a time once his current contract is up, and it should be nowhere near the top in the league.

 

[Coryea]

The Boz situation is tough because of the precedent, but again, it would only be another $1-1.5 million. I could see both sides.

In the last two years, 7 DTs signed contracts larger than Heyward's new deal. Of those 7, only one was 30+ at the age of signing (DeForest Buckner was 30 years old and signed a deal worth an average of $23 million).

Looking at other players 32+ at the age of their signing since 2024:
-Geno Smith, QB, 37 $37.5 million per year (62.5% of highest QB deal) 0 17th highest
-Jake Matthews, LT, 33, $22.5 million per year (78.9% of highest LT deal) - 7th highest
-Garrett Bolles, LT, 32 $20.5 million per year (71.9% of highest LT deal) - 11th highest
-Khalil Mack, EDGE, 34 $18 million per year (43.9% of highest EDGE deal) - 17th highest
-Cam Heyward, IDL, $14.5 million per year (45.7% of highest IDL deal) - 23rd highest


Heyward's age combined with only 11 games played looked like a like a fair deal for both sides. The problem is the low end of this market is probably $22 million per year, but that's also for a DT in their prime. He's also performing at a high level and compared to other older players who actually signed big deals, he's on the low end.

Do they just give one or both the AB treatment when he got more money with two years left on his deal?

Nice research.
Buckner was coming off an 8 sack, 81 tackles season when he signed his deal at the age of 30
The Steelers gave Cam an extension at the age of 35 coming off a 2 sack 33 tackle season where he only played 11 games.

IMO Cam and/or his agent should've asked for some performance incentives in that deal.

 

[jitter77]

Perhaps we are not aware of the conditions surrounding his deal last year. Maybe Cam was led to believe that a redo was possible if he outperformed stated expectations?

It's disappointing to hear of these "hold-ins", for sure, but I think we are making conclusions about a player without full information.

This is possible especially after what spillane came out and said. Spillane said the steelers told him they would match whatever he was offered and once he received an offer the steelers were like bye bye. They could have told Cam if you do xyz we will rework your deal. Regardless Cam should be happy with his deal. He is not getting any younger and probably has a couple yrs at best left. I do think Boz should get a raise though

 

[F83]

you dont extend him renogatiotate with performance incentives for this and next year.

 

[steelhurt]

Insane and bad business to redo this guy’s contract after an extension last year.
We won exactly nothing with him so far and it appears the trend will continue.
They already have the highest paid defense by a lot and what has that produced? Not much!
This organization is going about it all wrong. Build your offense up,spend your money there. not defense.
I’d rather have the goal be a high powered offense starting next season when you draft your franchise QB, and go cheaper on defense.
If Hayward’s going to be a distraction, see if you can get a mid round pick for him. Let’s start getting younger and start moving off some of these over priced aging defensive players.
A 36 year old wanting to redo his contract. Ridiculous!

 

[Coryea]

As for Boz, when he signed his last contract he was the HIGHEST paid kicker in the NFL, now he isn't, that happens all the time at every position. He'll have one year left after this season, that's when you renegotiate you contract, have another great season and you get your extension.

 

[SteelerFan448]

Insane and bad business to redo this guy’s contract after an extension last year.
We won exactly nothing with him so far and it appears the trend will continue.

It's interesting to see this point of view of a group of fans who have watched this team win versus the younger fans on Twitter who are all about the players and giving them money. Cam has been on this team when they've made one deep playoff run and that year they were carried by the offense. He is always on the borderline of making excuses, particularly for the coaching staff. The perception of players will always be different when they are contending for Super Bowls every year vs. squeaking into the playoffs and getting blown out. We used to celebrate individual players in a large part because of the overall team accomplishments. Now it is mainly about individual stats and performances.