ont talent in the salary era.

In this landscape, Heyward’s health and presence matter beyond Week 1. If a new contract isn’t in place, the Steelers must weigh the impact on their run defense, Watt’s edge rush pairing, and the long-term structure of the DL. The result could set a template for similar negotiations around the league, turning Heyward’s contract saga into a bellwether for substantial veteran extensions at premium non-quarterback positions.

With the season approaching, the Steelers aim to balance rewarding Heyward’s peak with sustainable cap health. The debate isn’t just about numbers; it’s about how teams value longevity, leadership, and on-field impact when the defensive line has shifted so dramatically in a single offseason.

12:T4be,

Trey Hendrickson’s extension talks with the Bengals have become a test of value in an evolving edge-rush market. Cincinnati let Hendrickson explore a trade to prove he wouldn’t fetch market-rate, but market moves since then have raised the stakes. Crosby’s $35.5M APY, Garrett’s $40M, and Watt’s $41M markers set a new floor for top-tier pass rushers. Hendrickson now faces a tricky choice: accept market value with Cincinnati, or test the market again and risk a season-long uncertainty. With the season looming, the decision could ripple through both the Bengals’ defense and fantasy projections for sack-heavy players in the AFC North and beyond.

For fantasy-minded followers, the saga matters because a Hendrickson departure or raise reshapes lineups and defensive rosters. If he stays at market value, his sack upside remains strong but crowded by higher salaries on the market; if he moves, teams with aggressive edge plans could boost their defenses while creating new targets and value adjustments around Cincinnati’s pass rush depth chart. Either outcome tightens the podium for fantasy edge players and shifts win-probability narratives around Cincinnati’s line of scrimmage.

13:T5ac,

Pittsburgh closes its 2025 preseason

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