Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward is eager to secure a new contract with the team, but it seems that this won’t happen until after the season unless an agreement is reached beforehand. According to General Manager Omar Khan, the Steelers have a strict policy of not negotiating contracts during the season, which has been in place for some time.
The team’s policy is aimed at keeping the focus on football once the season begins. As such, other key players like James Daniels, Justin Fields, Pat Freiermuth, Najee Harris and Russell Wilson will also have to wait until after the season for any contract discussions.
While extending contracts for Fields or Wilson now could be a risky move for the Steelers, not negotiating during the season could also have its drawbacks. If one of these players performs exceptionally well, their market value for a contract extension will only increase. Khan emphasized that for now, the priority is on the upcoming season and dealing with contract negotiations will come later.
Heyward, who missed the voluntary offseason program, is entering his final year under his current $16 million contract. The clock is ticking for the Steelers to address Heyward’s contract situation and decide how they will handle negotiations with other key players in the coming months.
