The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Cam Heyward 31st overall in the 2011 NFL Draft. Since then, he has become one of the faces of the franchise. Though he is not the elder statesman of the team, that distinction belongs to Aaron Rodgers, he holds that title on defense. In 2023, he appeared to be on the decline due to nagging injuries and advancing age. However, Heyward has given Father Time a run for his money ever since. Now, he has a realistic chance to extend his incredible career. That fate rests in the hands of his younger interior defensive linemen.
Heyward and Sebastian Joseph-Day are the two most experienced veterans on the interior defensive line. Joseph-Day brings championship pedigree and experience in multiple defensive schemes. Their mentorship and approach to their work could go a long way toward extending both of their careers. If the trio of Derrick Harmon, Yahya Black, and Keeanu Benton can prove capable of starting, Heyward and Joseph-Day could extend their careers longer than anticipated. In the process, they could also become the core pieces of a deep playoff run.
Steelers Veteran Duo Can Help Develop Their Young Defensive Tackles
Domata Peko knows what the Steelers organization expects from its defensive tackles. They must be strong against the run and able to push the pocket to let their edge rushers wreak havoc. He watched the Steelers defense face his Cincinnati Bengals offense more than 20 times. Now, the Steelers have tasked him with developing their young linemen into the mold of Heyward and Joseph-Day.
Heyward and Joseph-Day don't necessarily need to take Peko's place. Instead, they can continue doing what they already do: showing the young players how to work and passing along the tricks of the trade. It may already be rubbing off on these young defensive tackles. Last season, the trio combined for three batted-down passes at the line of scrimmage. Heyward has developed a knack for that skill, batting down 17 passes over the past two seasons.
Most importantly, Benton had a breakout season and will see his role change. Instead of using him exclusively at nose tackle, Peko confirmed the team will deploy him more in a gap-technique defensive tackle role. It's reasonable to assume Peko and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham will adjust their approach with Harmon and Black as well.
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Better-Performing Young Defensive Tackles Could Mean a Longer Career for Heyward
Over his last two seasons, Heyward has logged an average of 71.2% and 70.7% of defensive snaps, respectively. Compare that to the high-80s averages he posted from 2019 to 2021, and it becomes clear the reduction is by design. The results are beginning to show, as Heyward continues to extend his career while playing at a high level. However, the last thing the Steelers need is to force him into more snaps. Managing his workload doesn't rest on the coaching staff alone. It also depends on the development of these young defensive tackles.
If all three can elevate their games to a starting-caliber level or better, that outcome represents a massive win. Not just for the Steelers' player development, but for Heyward himself. He remains a wrecking ball and a dominant force in this Steelers defense, and deploying him strategically will only extend his career further. What once seemed like a two-year ceiling could become three or four. That outcome will come down to the performance of Black, Harmon, and Benton. If they meet expectations and take another step forward, Heyward and the Steelers will be primed for success.
