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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward addressed his new contract at the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Pittsburgh Steelers added 10 new draft picks and undrafted free agents to their roster over the weekend. But one player they secured earlier in the offseason on a new contract was veteran defensive lineman Cameron Heyward.
In March, the Steelers and Heyward agreed to a revised contract — a new two-year, $32.25 million deal. The first year will be fully guaranteed.
The agreement came on the heels of a contract standoff with the All-Pro lineman, where Heyward performing a “hold-in” during training camp and threatened to miss regular season games.
Heyward and the Steelers won’t be dealing with those kinds of issues this season. The defensive lineman explained to reporters at the 2026 NFL Draft that that’s a significant positive.
“I’m glad I don’t have to worry about that,” he told Steelers Now before the first round Thursday. “I’m glad I just get to focus on trying to be a better player, be a better teammate.
“It’s a weight off my shoulders. Now, I’ve just got to go out there and prove it.”
Heyward posted 78 combined tackles, including nine tackles for loss with nine quarterback hits last season. He also had 3.5 sacks with six pass defenses and a forced fumble while making second-team All-Pro.
Dave Holcomb is a sports reporter covering the NFL and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers and a variety of other NFL teams. Originally from Pittsburgh, Holcomb has covered college and professional sports for outlets including FanSided, Rotowire and Yardbarker. More about Dave Holcomb