Steelers Extend Heyward thru 2020.

[Jooser]

If Cam Heyward gets double teamed by the guard and tackle, and Bud Dupree only has to take on a TE or RB on his way to blasting the QB...then it is an investment well worth it.

YES! Exactly.....I like it a-lot!

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Have to agree. 10 million per is playmaker money.

Honestly this seems a little too high to me. I like heyward but damn, I have never considered him a dominant type player and that's what these numbers suggest to me. Seems like a true steeler type and a leader so that's worth something. May just be market value in today's NFL.

You summed up my sentiments perfectly.

Hope he stays healthy and continues to make plays

Amen. Nightmare scenario is he pulls a Woodley. But by all accounts, Heyward is a high-character guy, so I don't expect him to be a slacker when it comes to fitness and preparation.

Maybe Butler will turn him loose, and he will prove to be a dominant playmaker.

[Djfan]

I thought it was high, too, but he is a great player.

[SidSmythe]

I agree. That's a lot of money for a player who has yet to be dominant.

What does JJ Watt make a season???

[Slapstick]

JJ Watt makes about $16 million per season average. He signed a 6 year $100 million deal with more than $50 million guaranteed.

[SidSmythe]

JJ Watt makes about $16 million per season average. He signed a 6 year $100 million deal with more than $50 million guaranteed.

In comparison to that deal this is "fair" ... not exactly a bargain but I'm looking forward to seeing where Heyward blossoms.

[Shoe]

You summed up my sentiments perfectly.



Amen. Nightmare scenario is he pulls a Woodley. But by all accounts, Heyward is a high-character guy, so I don't expect him to be a slacker when it comes to fitness and preparation.

Maybe Butler will turn him loose, and he will prove to be a dominant playmaker.

This signing does remind one of Woodley. Woodley was also a high-character guy, high-motor guy from a traditional Big 10 school. We inked him at a great spot in his career (after first contract, around 25-27--lots of good years left).

I don't know if I'd "turn him loose" more. I think he's shown he's an impact player from his traditional spot (3-4 DE). You get the amount of sacks he's gotten from that spot, you're saying something.

[7upnext]

Have to agree. 10 million per is playmaker money.

Honestly this seems a little too high to me. I like heyward but damn, I have never considered him a dominant type player and that's what these numbers suggest to me. Seems like a true steeler type and a leader so that's worth something. May just be market value in today's NFL. Hope he stays healthy and continues to make plays

agreed. two of the most easily replaceable positions on a football team are guards and 3-4 DEs. I love the kid a lot. He's exactly what you want in a 3-4 DE. But no 3-4 DE is worth that money. Not one. All these young players we've got will be looking for paydays in 2-3 years and this contract might prevent being able to sign one of them. Again, love the player, feel he would probably not even get this as a FA so I see no reason to give it to him.

[Oviedo]

agreed. two of the most easily replaceable positions on a football team are guards and 3-4 DEs. I love the kid a lot. He's exactly what you want in a 3-4 DE. But no 3-4 DE is worth that money. Not one. All these young players we've got will be looking for paydays in 2-3 years and this contract might prevent being able to sign one of them. Again, love the player, feel he would probably not even get this as a FA so I see no reason to give it to him.

...unless Butler uses him differently than our DEs have been used in the past then with his skillset he could be a real beast and justify every dollar he gets.

[RuthlessBurgher]

He's truly an every down player capable of both being responsible and gap sound in an odd man front on early run downs when asked to 2-gap as a 5-technique DE and also being an aggressive penetrator in an even man front on nickel and dime passing downs when asked to 1-gap as a 3-technique DT. Those cats are rare and valuable.

[Slapstick]

The funny thing is, the site-that-shall-not-be-named called the numbers on this contract just over a month ago...it seems pretty close...

[Slapstick]

agreed. two of the most easily replaceable positions on a football team are guards and 3-4 DEs. I love the kid a lot. He's exactly what you want in a 3-4 DE. But no 3-4 DE is worth that money. Not one. All these young players we've got will be looking for paydays in 2-3 years and this contract might prevent being able to sign one of them. Again, love the player, feel he would probably not even get this as a FA so I see no reason to give it to him.

A DE in a base 3-4 defense is easy to replace...a DE in a 3-4 who can stay on the field in the sub package and still be effective is hard to find...the Steelers found one and locked him down...hopefully, with Tuitt, they have two...

[NorthCoast]

A DE in a base 3-4 defense is easy to replace...a DE in a 3-4 who can stay on the field in the sub package and still be effective is hard to find...the Steelers found one and locked him down...hopefully, with Tuitt, they have two...

This.

The fact you have a player that can stay in on multiple defensive packages makes him all the more valuable.

Plus you have a guy that was on the injury report for 3 games in 4 years. That's worth something as well.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Any player can easily be replaced. We can replace Heyward with Cam Thomas, who only makes $2M per year. We can use the $8M savings on other players. Don't think that anyone wants that.

I think that one of the beautiful things about guys like Heyward and Aaron Smith is that they contribute greatly, in ways that are not quantified by numbers. You can't simply use the cliche that "all they do is occupy blockers". Good DEs allow guys like Harrison, Lloyd, Porter etc. to put up numbers and grab the glory.

[RuthlessBurgher]

The funny thing is, the site-that-shall-not-be-named called the numbers on this contract just over a month ago...it seems pretty close...

Well, that's about the time that new deals for Cam Jordan and Corey Liuget set the market, so the eventual numbers weren't awfully surprising.