Steelers’ Cameron Heyward wants new contract, isn’t fully practicing, according to reports

A lot has been said about how much teams are investing on their defense this year. Clearly, there has been a reset in the demand for defense players, and things have shifted vis-a-vis payout structuring. And new reports claim that Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward has not been fully participating in practice at training camp and wants a revised contract.Cameron Heyward is reportedly looking for a raise as he heads into his 15th season in Pittsburgh. "Heyward is scheduled to make $14.75 million this season, with $13.45 million of that already having been earned as a roster bonus in March," ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote Thursday on X. "Heyward is seeking a raise in a defensive market that has experienced a reset this offseason."Cameron Heyward had agreed to a three-year, $45 million extension last September, but multiple key roster changes have clearly taken a toll and led Heyward to changing his mind. Heyward received $13.45 million of his $14.75 million for 2025 via a roster bonus is under contract for $14.5 million for the 2026 season. It’s important to note that most of that money is also tied up as a roster bonus, and none of it is guaranteed.Reports claim that Heyward and the Steelers have talked about reworking the deal, but they have not move forward towards a new agreement. The Steelers have a standing policy of not negotiating once the season begins, so time may be running out for both the parties as Week 1 draws near.Earlier this year, Heyward addressed teammate T.J. Watt's holdout with Pittsburgh. Shortly after T.J. Watt and the Pittsburgh Steelers signed a three-year, $123 million contract extension, which made him the highest-paid non-quarterback"Man, that's my brother. I want that dude to get paid what he deserves," Heyward said. "I've had the best time being able to play with him, and I hope this year is not the last time we play together because that dude, that's my running mate. We've created a lot of havoc together, and I just want to see that guy continue to be a Pittsburgh Steeler and be a one-helmet guy."A recently released report proved that the Eagles have the cheapest defense in the NFL. Philly is spending under $65 million on their defense this season, while the Steelers are spending $115 million more than Philadelphia!