The deal for the veteran includes $29 million in new money with $16 million fully guaranteed. The deal keeps Heyward in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future where he will continue to be one of the faces of the franchise. Hayward is entering his age-35 season.

Currently in search of a new contract from the Steelers, Heyward said last week that he and his wife had discussed the possibility of needing to play elsewhere if he doesn’t re-sign with the Steelers beyond this season. Heyward, 35, appeared in 11 games for the Steelers last season, totaling two sacks and six TFLs. He combined for 20.5 sacks and 29 TFLs from 2021-2022, but he’s well past the age where we begin to see players decline. Heyward skipped OTAs but was present at minicamp, so we wouldn’t expect a holdout when training camp ramps up next month. With that said, we could be looking at the final season in Pittsburgh for a player who has long been a staple along the Steelers’ defensive interior.

Heyward has not attended voluntary offseason workouts and looks to sit out OTAs as he awaits a contract extension. The six-time Pro Bowler is entering the final season of a four-year, $65 million contract. He has been with the Steelers since getting drafted in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Heyward just turned 35 and is a three-time first-team All-Pro, though his 2023 season was plagued by injury. He appeared in 11 games, tallying two sacks and winning the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for his off-the-field work. Fowler notes that Heyward has never missed an offseason program. The Steelers will work to get an extension done with a mainstay of their defense for over the last decade.

Heyward went down with the groin injury in Week 1 and has been on injured reserve ever since. The Steelers still had a nasty one-two punch with T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith in Heyward’s absence. Adding the six-time Pro Bowl attendee back into the mix will make their defense even more formidable. Heyward has at least 10 sacks in each of his past two seasons.