Steelers’ Cam Heyward Left Behind By The NFL But Still A Top 100 Player

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been well-served since drafting defensive lineman Cam Heyward in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Over 194 career games, Heyward has amassed 80.5 sacks, 404 solo tackles, and eight forced fumbles. He has been a key asset in stopping the run and pressuring the quarterback, and the Steelers' defense has been fortunate to have him for over a decade.

Each year, the NFL ranks its top 100 players, a list voted on by the players themselves. On Monday morning, the league revealed the players who made the bottom of the list, with spots 100-81 officially announced. Veteran leader Heyward made the list again, but it is one of his lowest rankings to date. In the 2017 season, he did not make the list. Other than that, from 2016 to 2023, Heyward has been ranked inside the top 90.

Heyward was ranked 98th, a significant drop from his 45th position in the 2023 season. Despite this decline, being ranked in the top 100 at his age is still a notable achievement. Carolina Panthers defensive lineman Derrick Brown appeared during Heyward's ranking to highlight his continued greatness.

"OG, he's still doing it,” said Brown. "Still doing it at the same level. It's crazy."

During the 2023 season, Steelers fans noticed that Heyward seemed to have lost a step, which contributed to his lower ranking compared to previous years. Heyward was dealing with an injury early in the season and worked hard to return to the field as quickly as possible.

Heyward attributes his diminished production to playing nearly on one leg due to the injury. This offseason, he underwent surgery and is now fully recovered. Motivated by those who have tried to discredit him, Heyward is confident that he remains one of the best defensive players in the league and is determined to prove his doubters wrong.

Heyward's teammate, Minkah Fitzpatrick, appeared during the segment to highlight what makes Heyward so exceptional.

"He's a consistent force for us in the run game, in the pass game," said Fitzpatrick. "He's a leader on our team. He's a great dude, a great man."

This offseason, Heyward has been involved in some controversy among the fan base. Some Steelers fans suggested he should take a pay cut to help improve the roster. 

Given that the Steelers' defense is among the highest-paid in the NFL and Heyward is a key reason for that, he was understandably upset by the idea of reducing his salary.

Steelers' Cam Heyward Still Seeking A New Deal

For the first time in his career, Heyward chose to skip the start of Organized Team Activities (OTAs), hoping to secure a new deal with the Steelers. He returned to the team in the final week of OTAs, though he insisted his return was not related to contract negotiations but rather because he felt it was time to rejoin his teammates.

The Steelers have stated they will not negotiate contracts during the season, so if a new deal isn’t finalized before the season begins, it won’t happen during the year. It appears Heyward will play for the Steelers in 2024, but is open to exploring other options if necessary. 

There has been considerable speculation about how Pittsburgh will address his request for a new deal. Despite the doubts, Heyward is highly motivated and eager to prove himself. He remains confident he can still deliver top-tier performance, even at this stage in his career.

His ranking shows a decline in the eyes of the league, but being listed in the top 100 players is still an impressive achievement. Heyward's ranking may serve as extra motivation for him to silence his critics and demonstrate that he can still play at a high level.

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