Cam Heyward, Steelers Agree on New Contract: Details, Comments, Reaction

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward was set to make $6.97 million in the final year of his deal during the 2015 season. But the two sides came to an agreement on a long-term contract extension Thursday evening, Heyward announced on Twitter:

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Heyward's six-year extension will allow him to don black and yellow through 2020: 

"

For the #Steelers and DE Cameron Heyward, it’s a 6-year deal worth $59.2 million, source said.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 17, 2015"

"Heyward will make about $21 million within the first eight months of the deal," ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler wrote, citing a source. "Much of that total is from a signing bonus."

Jason Fitzgerald of OvertheCap.com provided a comprehensive breakdown of the deal: 

Furthermore, Rapoport reported the Steelers were determined to ink the defensive end, one of their foundational pieces, to a long-term deal:   

According to Josh Yohe of DKonPittsburghSports.com, Heyward's the kind of player who can set the tone for a defense that's undergone significant turnover in the personnel department during the offseason:  

The 26-year-old pass-rusher is coming off the best season of his four-year career. During a campaign that saw Heyward appear in all 16 games for the fourth straight season, the Ohio State product notched a career-high 7.5 sacks while recording 33 tackles and 20 assists.

The Steelers selected Heyward back in the first round of the 2011 draft at No. 31 overall. And while he only recorded a sack and 10 tackles during his rookie season, Heyward has steadily improved each year since entering the league.

In fact, Heyward's 7.5 sacks last season matched his cumulative total from the first three years of his career. According to the Steelers, that team-leading tally marked the first time a defensive end topped the Steelers in sacks since Aaron Smith in 2004. 

A staple of Pittsburgh's 3-4 scheme, he will now have a chance to solidify his place as a cornerstone of the team's defense as he gets set to help carry the franchise into a prosperous new era.

With one marquee year under his belt and a hefty new contract to justify his worth to the Steelers, expect Heyward to produce at even higher clips again next season.