TUESDAY, 7:59am: The Steelers have now made it official on Heyward’s option, exercising it and locking him up through 2015, tweets Burt Lauten, the team’s PR rep.
MONDAY, 2:53pm: Breer has issued a correction to his earlier report, tweeting that it was Cameron Jordan, not Heyward, who had his option exercised today. We passed along word on the Saints’ decision on Jordan earlier in the afternoon.
So while there’s nothing official on Heyward yet, the Steelers still have until May 3 to pick up their option on him, and appear likely to do so. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com wrote earlier today that he viewed Heyward’s option as a “no-brainer” decision for Pittsburgh.
2:26pm: The Steelers have picked up their 2015 option on Cameron Heyward, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network. It’s the latest in a string of fifth-year options for 2011 first-rounders that will be exercised in advance of the May 3 deadline.
Heyward, the 31st overall pick in the 2011 draft, became a starter for the first-time last season, appearing in 845 total defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. The 24-year-old recorded a career-best 59 tackles and five sacks, as well as recovering his first career fumble.
The Steelers defensive end will be in line for a salary of $6.969MM for 2015. At this point, that money is guaranteed for injury only, though it’ll become fully guaranteed on the first day of the 2015 league year. Heyward will be eligible for unrestricted free agency following the ’15 season.