Cameron Heyward contract extension details and Steelers fans' reaction

The Pittsburgh Steelers are making sure that star defensive linemen Cameron Heyward isn't going anywhere, as the team has reportedly agreed to a contract extension with one of its franchise stalwarts.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler , the Steelers and Heyward have agreed to a three-year, $45 million extension that includes $29 million in new money, $16 million fully guaranteed and a signing bonus of nearly $15 million.

Heyward, 35, was set to hit free agency after this season, but this new deal will keep him around through the 2026 season, Fowler notes, and almost certainly guarantees he'll never play for another team.

The only real concern with the new deal is that Heyward is up there in age, and he's coming off a season in which he battled injury and missed six contests while not playing at the elite level we've been accustomed to.

That said, Heyward is still better than a lot of players at his position and remains he's a great leader and a key piece on the interior of a Steelers defense that stands to be elite in 2024.

Also, it's very possible the Steelers structured the deal in a way that doesn't leave them with a ton of commitment in the next few years. We should know more about the structure in the coming days.

Many Steelers fans were happy to see the new deal, but there were definitely some who are concerned about what Heyward will be able to offer moving forward.