Given Heyward’s All-Pro season and age, what would a realistic extension look like, in structure and guarantees, to keep cap hits manageable while rewarding peak performance?
A realistic extension would likely be a multi-year deal (3-4 years) with a sizable signing bonus, moderate guarantee structure (roughly 40-60% of total value guaranteed at signing), and a front-loaded cap hit to reward Heyward now while spreading cost. The annual average could land in the high teens (roughly $16-18M APY), with heavier guarantees in the first two years to reflect current DL market dynamics. A modest base salary in later years helps with cap flexibility if production declines, while a potential no-trade clause could be negotiated to keep him anchored to Pittsburgh.