Pittsburgh Steelers OTAs: Contract questions loom for Mike Tomlin, Najee Harris & Cam Heyward
While the Pittsburgh Steelers are gathering in Pittsburgh as a team for the first time in 2024, they will be missing a few key pieces. One of them happens to be Cam Heyward, the captain and heart and soul of the team. But for Pittsburgh, Heyward's contract situation isn't the only one that will generate […]
While the Pittsburgh Steelers are gathering in Pittsburgh as a team for the first time in 2024, they will be missing a few key pieces.
One of them happens to be Cam Heyward, the captain and heart and soul of the team.
But for Pittsburgh, Heyward's contract situation isn't the only one that will generate questions at OTAs, with Mike Tomlin, Najee Harris and even Justin Fields generating questions:
Contract Questions Linger
Cam Heyward and the Steelers have talked about a potential contract extension, but the 14-year defensive end has added a little melodrama to the possibility when it really isn’t necessary.
Heyward used his podcast last week to say he was going to skip the offseason training activities that begin Tuesday if he didn’t receive a contract extension, a threat that probably did little more than raise an eyebrow at 3400 South Water Street for several reasons.
The Steelers have had a “discussion” with Heyward about a contract extension, but it has been nothing more than that, according to team sources. Heyward did not tell the Steelers about his threat to skip OTAs, preferring to announce it on his podcast, “Not Just Football.”
-Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post Gazette
But Heyward is not alone in his contract questions. HC Mike Tomlin is coaching on the final year of his deal and is a year behind on when the Steelers typically sign their coaches to extensions.
That aligns with the moves the Steelers have made or didn't make this offseason, with Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Pat Freiermuth, Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, and James Daniels all heading into the final year of their respective contracts.
What it signals to me, is that Pittsburgh is going to take a long look at what happens in 2024, and decide on which path to take come 2025. If things go well and the team incurs playoff success, then it's extensions all around.
But should they disappoint, not extending coaches and players allows for a clean break that starts a total rebuild in 2025.
The two names that will be most talked about are Mike Tomlin and Najee Harris.
I expect questions to fly when it comes to the contract situation of the duo. It's currently unknown if Harris will attend OTAs, and we know his history with the media, but if he is in attendance, he will be asked about the team's decision to decline his fifth-year option.
And while coach Tomlin will likely want to focus on ball, you better believe that if he was asked about his contract this time last year, that noise is only going to be louder this year.
The responses promise to be intriguing.
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