Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward has made it clear he wants a new contract, but unless the Steelers finalize it before the start of the season, it won’t happen this year. The Steelers have a hard and fast no-trade policy during the season.
General manager Omar Khan recently confirmed during an appearance on 93.7 The Fan that the Steelers will end all contract negotiations once the season begins.
That means James Daniels, Justin Fields, Pat Freiermuth, Najee Harris and Russell Wilson, among the team’s 2025 scheduled free agents, also won’t receive new deals until after the season unless they get them within the next 2 1/2 months.
“I think It’s an incredible policy,” Khan said on radio, via SI.com. “This policy even predates Kevin [Colbert] and I got here. Once we enter the season, I believe everything should be focused on football. Obviously, there’s a commercial aspect to this, and that’s okay. That’s just part of it. But once we get into the season, we’re going to focus on it.”
It would be a gamble for the Steelers to extend Fields or Wilson’s contracts now, but it’s also a gamble for the Steelers to decide before the start of the season that they won’t trade either of them during the season. What if one of them gets a contract extension? The price will only go up after the season.
“From my perspective, I can just say I’m more concerned about the quarterback this year,” Khan said. “The rest will take shape after the season.”
Heyward skipped the voluntary portion of the offseason program as he entered the final year of his contract. He want an extension on a contract that pays $16 million this year, and the clock is ticking.
