The Pittsburgh Steelers signed defensive captain Cameron Heyward to a contract extension last weekend and the important details of that deal have now become available.
According to former NFL agent Joel Corry of CBS Sports, Heyward’s new deal included a $17.5 million signing bonus and a first year roster bonus of $2.75 million, which is being treated as a signing bonus this late in the offseason. The annual proration amount related to that new signing bonus and 2020 roster bonus is $4.05 million. As expected and as originally reported, Heyward’s originally scheduled salary cap charge of $13,251,250 decreased by $3.95 million as a result of his extension.
Heywards extension calls for base salaries of $1.5 million, $4.5 million, $6.5 million, $15.85 million and $16 million. Heyward is also scheduled to receive roster bonuses of $6 million and $4.5 million in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
In all likelihood, Heyward will have his contract restructured in February or March. That restructure will likely include all of Heyward’s $6 million roster bonus and all but $1.075 million of his $4.5 million base salary he’s due in 2021 into a signing bonus. such a restructure next offseason would lower Heywards 2021 salary cap charge by $7,068,750.
Prior to signing his extension, Heyward was due $9.5 million in 2020. His extension included a new money amount of $65.6 million and thus Heyward’s new money average moving forward is $16.4 million. He is now the eighth-highest paid interior defensive lineman in the NFL at the time of this extension being signed.
| YEAR | BASE SALARY | SIGNING BONUS | ROSTER BONUS | CAP CHARGE | CASH FLOW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $1,500,000 | $7,801,250 | $0 | $9,301,250 | $21,750,000 |
| 2021 | $4,500,000 | $4,050,000 | $6,000,000 | $14,550,000 | $32,250,000 |
| 2022 | $6,500,000 | $4,050,000 | $4,500,000 | $15,050,000 | $43,250,000 |
| 2023 | $15,850,000 | $4,050,000 | $0 | $19,900,000 | $59,100,000 |
| 2024 | $16,000,000 | $4,050,000 | $0 | $20,050,000 | $75,100,000 |
