Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cam Heyward. Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Steelers have two more big contract issues to worry about

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Aug 7, 2025 5:07 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Steelers took care of one big contract situation earlier this preseason when they signed superstar pass rusher T.J. Watt to a new long-term contract extension to make him the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL. Their contract headaches, however, did not end with that new deal.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Thursday, two of the Steelers' other top players are also looking for new raises before the start of the season.

Four-time All-Pro defensive tackle Cam Heyward has not been fully practicing in camp as he looks to get a raise on the new contract he signed just last year, while kicker Chris Boswell is also seeking a new raise from the team.

In addition to Cam Heyward, All-Pro kicker Chris Boswell privately has been seeking a new contract from the Steelers, per source. Despite being voted first team All-Pro, Boswell was the AFC North’s lowest-paid kicker last season. Three years ago Boswell signed a contract that… https://t.co/4PEmbpoQjD
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 7, 2025

Heyward's new deal going into the 2024 season already seemed to be team-friendly, and it only become more team-friendly when he put together a dominant performance during the season and was arguably the team's best defensive player. In terms of total cash he is set to be the 36th highest-paid defensive lineman in the NFL this season. There are not 35 defensive lineman that are better than him. There might not even be 10 that are better, even with the fact that Heyward is entering his age-36 season.

Boswell, meanwhile, was the lowest-paid kicker in the AFC North in 2024 and is set to be 16th in total cash going into the 2025 season, despite the fact he is one of the best kickers in the NFL. Now that Justin Tucker is out of the league he might be the best kicker in the league. Given the struggles of the Steelers' offense, he is also one of their most reliable players when it comes to putting points on the board and is nearly automatic from anywhere on the field.

Despite a busier than normal offseason in terms of free agent additions and trades, the Steelers still have more than $30M in salary cap space this offseason. They have plenty of money to still spend. It might be in their best interest to reward two of their best and most important players, both of whom are dramatically underpaid compared to their peers around the NFL.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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