Steelers Pick Up 5th Year Option On Cam Heyward’s Rookie Contract

The Steelers announce this morning that they have exercised the fifth year option of DE Cam Heyward’s rookie contract.

The @Steelers have picked up the 5th year option on DE Cam Heyward, which means he now is under contract thru the 2015 season

— Bob Labriola (@BobLabriola) April 22, 2014

There was some confusion about this on the web Monday, as NFL reporter Albert Breer mistakenly said that the team had picked up the option yesterday. By picking up the option, the team retains the rights to Hewyard through 2015. If they do not extend him before the 2015 season, he will earn a salary of $6.969 Mil, which is only guaranteed through injury. The price of the 5th year option is a little over half of what a franchise tag for defensive ends would cost.

While they could in theory release him after the 2014 season without risk, the team is going to want to work towards a long term extension with the defensive end.