The Steelers contractual options with Cam Heyward

So much for no distractions.

When the Steelers managed to work out their contract extension with T.J. Watt before the start of training camp, Steelers’ Nation breathed a sigh relief of the distraction not lingering over camp. But it was short-lived as over a week into camp it was reported that Cam Heyward was not fully participating in all activities as he is looking for a new deal.

First, it should be noted that Heyward was well into camp and was participating in a way that didn’t draw much attention. Many felt he was just getting the veteran treatment as he worked through individual drills but not necessarily always in team activities. The fact it was so unnoticeable goes to show that it’s not as if Heyward is just standing on the sideline and not doing anything.

It should also be noticed that Heyward signed a contract not even 365 days ago. There are two years remaining on his contract, which is not in the time frame the Steelers typically renegotiate outside of a player at the quarterback position.

Before getting into the potential options for the Steelers, I must say that, if it was going to work out this way, Cam Heyward should have never signed that contract last year. He was “holding in” in 2024 as he went into the last year of his deal, and Heyward did not get paid one dollar more in 2024 than he would have if he played out the final year of his previous deal. The fact that he agreed to a contract over the next two years that did not pay him as much as the rest of the top player that his position group was really his own fault. The only advantage he gained by signing that deal in 2024 was all of his salary was instantly guaranteed for last season. But was that ever really going to become an issue? It’s not like the Steelers were going to release him last year, so while it may feel like there was some security there really was not. The Steelers had the advantage of spreading out some of the money into the next two years, but it really didn’t do anything for Heyward.

Keeping this in mind, there are really three options that the Steelers have when it comes to Cam Heyward this season:

1. Do nothing and have Heyward play under his current contract.

2. Trade Heyward to another team.

3. Move money from next year up to this year to give him a bump in pay.

Noticed that none of the options would be to simply release Heyward. The Steelers have paid almost all of his salary already for 2025 and he has a very small base salary. There would be basically no financial help by simply releasing Heyward at this time.

I did put the option of trading Heyward, but this one is extremely low. It is at least more likely than just having Heyward be released. If the Steelers were to trade him, there would likely have to be an agreement of taking on some of the money he was already paid, unless the draft compensation was extremely high. I don’t think the Steelers want to do this and I don’t know of a team that would be willing to be a dance partner. But it is possible.

The first option of just having things play out is an interesting one. The problem is if Heyward sits out games going into the regular season. If he does, the Steelers could attempt to recoup the roster bonus he received in March as it was paid to him for services for the 2025 regular season. If they would release him, they would have no right to recoup anything. But if Heyward refuses to play, that’s a whole different story. So for those were wondering about this since Heyward has been paid so much, this is a possibility if things get messy.

But the main focus is how things would work is if the Steelers give Cam Heyward the same treatment they gave Antonio Brown when he was unhappy with how much he was making one season and they bumped some of his money forward.

First, let’s look at how there are different ways that Steelers could handle moving money forward when it comes to the salary cap. If any additional money for 2025 is done as base salary, it increases the salary cap hit this year and decreases what Heyward’s cap hit would be next year. If the Steelers did it as an incentive for this year and it’s Not Likely To Be Earned (NLTBE), like winning a playoff game because the Steelers did not do so the previous season, it would not be on this year’s cap but would be all next year if it is reached. If the Steelers structured things as a signing bonus for this year (or just a regular bonus) that is prorated, it would count half this year and half next year of the amount they move forward because it is spread over both seasons.

If the Steelers move the money up, Heyward gets paid that money in 2025. If Heyward were to retire after the 2025 season, then there is just a dead cap hit for next year from his prorated bonus from when he signed the contract last year. As for money moved forward this year, if the Steelers do it as a bonus, the remaining prorated part would just add to that dead money amount.

The big thing to remember is Heyward doesn’t have much base salary for this year and next year: $1.3 million. Instead, he has roster bonuses due in March. It was $13.45 million this year which already happened and $12.95 million next year.

So this year Heyward has already been paid $13.45 million, an issue that fans take exception to that he’s already been paid and now is talking about not playing in games. His base salary is only $1.3 million. So Cam is getting paid $14.75 million this year with a cap hit of $19.65 million.

So let’s say the Steelers want to move $6 million from his $12.95 million roster bonus for March next year up to this year. If they do it as base salary, then his 2025 cap number goes up $6 million. If they do it as an incentive, something Heyward would likely would not agree to, then the cap number stays the same. But if they do it as a bonus that he gets the money now, half counts on 2025’s salary cap and the other half counts in 2026. So his cap number would go up to $22.65 million this year and the amount of money he makes this year would be $20.75 million.

As for retiring after this season, the Steelers technically could go after various bonus money if he retires before the end of his contract, but they wouldn’t have to. If Heyward did all this moving of money forward just to retire after the season, I would go after the money if I were the GM. But I’m not the Steelers GM, and they probably would let it go. When it comes to the salary cap, if Heyward retires after the 2025 season there would be no $6.95 million remaining roster bonus or $1.3 million base salary. The Steelers would have $7.9 million in dead money for 2026.

So there are some of the options when it comes to the Steelers with Cam Heyward and the current situation. Exactly how this plays out remains to be seen. Hopefully, whatever happens, is resolved soon and does not linger into the 2025 regular season.