First Call: Context for Cam Heyward's contract desires; are Steelers a 2nd option for Micah Parsons down the road? (2024)

Wednesday’s “First Call” puts some numbers to what Cameron Heyward may be asking of the Pittsburgh Steelers in terms of compensation for the rest of his career.

Also, a Dallas Cowboys star is putting out feelers about joining the Steelers if the circ*mstances are right … players besides Brandon Aiyuk keep getting paid in San Francisco … and a former Penguins assistant coach has a new job.

Cam’s claim

Here’s some context to Cameron Heyward’s quotes about hope for a new contract and how he perceives himself in the NFL.

On Tuesday, the Steelers veteran defensive lineman showed up for the third week of organized team activities at the team’s practice facility. He missed the first two while he tried to work out a contract extension. Heyward is entering the final year of his contract, which is set to pay him $16 million and counts more than $22.4 million against the salary cap.

The 35-year-old said Tuesday that he still considers himself a top 5 defensive lineman in the game. That’s despite coming off an injury-addled 2023 that allowed him to play in only 11 games, many of which were not at 100%.

A three-time All-Pro, Heyward says he wants to play three more years. If we run the comps, here are the top 5 interior defensive line contracts (not counting the retired Aaron Donald) in the NFL based on average annual value.

• Chris Jones (KC): $31.7 million

• Christian Wilkins (LV): $27.5 million

• Justin Madubuike (BAL): $24.5 million

• Derrick Brown (CAR): $24 million

• Quinnen Williams (NYJ): $24 million

Four of those guys were Pro Bowlers last year. None of them are older than 30. Heyward just turned 35. Heyward’s deal is currently 19th among interior defensive linemen, according to OverTheCap.com.

So, is Heyward worth an additional $8 million more than what he is getting this season for the last three years of his career?

I don’t think so. The Steelers should make him play it out, and if he proves that he is, let him sign a two-year deal for more than $24 million somewhere else next season if he doesn’t want to stay here for that much cash.

If I’m Omar Khan or Mike Tomlin, I’d be willing to run that risk.

Parsons in Pittsburgh?

Cowboys defensive superstar Micah Parsons wants to play his whole career with the Dallas Cowboys. But if the Harrisburg native and Penn State product were to go elsewhere, his preference would be to come to Pittsburgh.

That’s according to Clarence Hill Jr. of the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram.

Parsons has no interest in playing anywhere but with the Cowboys. He said it's important for his legacy and doesn't want to bounce around. But if he hypothetically did go home later in his career it would be to join the Pittsburgh Steelers not the Philadelphia Eagles, partly… https://t.co/JY5cgqryvb

— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) June 4, 2024

You know, it’s funny. I always hear potential big-name free agents talk about wanting to come to Pittsburgh because of Mike Tomlin when they are under contract somewhere else. But when they become big-ticket free agents, they almost never come here from another team.

Baltimore’s Patrick Queen is a bit of an exception this year. However, Queen called Tomlin “disrespectful” last year. So he doesn’t exactly fall under the same umbrella, does he?

In this case, with Parsons, I’ll believe when I see it. And if Hill is right, we are never going to see it anyway.

Parsons has two more years left on his entry-level contract. He’s scheduled to get just under $3 million this year, and $21.3 million in 2025.

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Fine with fines

Brandon Aiyuk is now officially getting fined for missing practice. The San Francisco 49ers receiver didn’t show up Tuesday for Day 1 of the 49ers minicamp. So that means he is subject to fines from the team if they decide to impose them.

Aiyuk wants a contract extension. That’s why there has been so much discussion about him potentially being a trade target of the Steelers.

#49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk has not reported to mandatory minicamp, as he seeks a new contract. He is subject to fines. The second holdout of the day, along with #Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 4, 2024

So far, the Niners have given extensions to fellow receiver Jauan Jennings and running back Christian McCaffrey.

Reigning Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey once again has reset the RB market, signing a two-year extension with the 49ers, averaging $19 million per year, per sources.

McCaffrey will receive an additional $8 million over what he was scheduled to make in the first… pic.twitter.com/1AythHhGL3

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 4, 2024

Plus, another wide receiver, Deebo Samuel, has two years left on his contract at $28 million and $24 million against the cap, respectively. Then there is the fact that quarterback Brock Purdy is due a contract after 2025 and will probably want a renegotiation after this year.

Maybe Samuel or Aiyuk could be trade bait after all. But if that happens, the Steelers are going to have to be willing to pay the money San Francisco wouldn’t want to pay to one of those two, on top of the trade compensation necessary to pry them free.

I’m holding out hope, but I’m not holding my breath.

Yo, Yeo!

Former Penguins coach Mike Yeo has a new job. He’ll be an assistant with the Ottawa Senators.

The team made that announcement Tuesday.

Bench bosses secured ✅

The #Sens have announced that Mike Yeo and Nolan Baumgartner will join Daniel Alfredsson and Ben Sexton as Assistant Coaches on Travis Green's staff. pic.twitter.com/m7KKayjgy2

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) June 4, 2024

Yeo was an assistant coach to Dan Bylsma on the 2009 Stanley Cup championship team. Since then, he has also been the head coach of the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues. Plus he was the Philadelphia Flyers interim coach for 60 games in 2021-22.