Steelers Now
Three Pittsburgh Steelers players — defensive tackle Cam Heyward, defensive tackle Keeanu Benton and outside linebacker Nick Herbig — recently had a training session with pass rush specialist Dez Walker.
Walker posted a clip on his Instagram account of him training the three Steelers. Walker is a highly regarded pass rush development specialist trainer based in Atlanta.
Heyward signed an extremely team-friendly deal, two-year, $29 million contract in April.
Heyward, 37, has been an extreme outlier in terms of his performance at his age among NFL circles. He led all interior defensive linemen in snaps last season, despite being 36 years old, and he has shown no sign of slowing down any time soon.
All of Heyward’s seven best seasons have come since after he turned 28 years old. He’s been a five-time All-Pro since he turned 30 years old.
Benton is entering the final season of his rookie contract with the Steelers in 2026, but the Wisconsin product said he’s not worried about what the future holds.
“Not really,” he said to Steelers Now after practice on Thursday when asked if he’s thinking about his contract situation. “I’m just here trying to come out here, get ready and learn that playbook.”
Travis Jones of the Baltimore Ravens, who was a third-round pick in 2022, played in 49 games and made 18 starts in his first three years with the club, recording 102 tackles, 3.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss and 11 quarterback hits. Jones signed a three-year, $40.5 million contract extension with the Ravens last year.
In three seasons with the Steelers, Benton has played in 51 games, made 40 starts and has recorded 123 tackles, 7.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss and 28 quarterback hits. With the salary cap going up another 8% in the interim, Benton should easily clear Jones’ deal on a contract extension, and could earn more than $15 million per year on a new deal.
Earlier this month, Herbig signed a four-year, $100 million contract extension that includes $42 million in guaranteed money. That contract will add onto the end of his $3.674 million in salary that he is still owed in 2026, the final year of his rookie contract.
Herbig, 24, has displayed exactly why he demanded such a payday over the past three years, racking up 79 tackles, 16 sacks, nine forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, three passes defensed and one interception all while working in a rotation with fellow outside linebackers Watt and Highsmith.
His production has also climbed each year. After recording three sacks as a rookie, Herbig posted 5.5 sacks in 2024 before setting a new career high with 7.5 sacks in 2025. He has not only become an important rotational contributor but has also positioned himself as a cornerstone of the franchise’s future at outside linebacker.
Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy and his staff have been planning on innovative schemes involving Herbig for months.
“You don’t draw up schemes as the season gets going. These are things we’ve...
