For years now, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward has been a staple on the NFL Top 100 list that is based on player voting, and while he made the cut again this year, he fell big time in the rankings.
According to Krissy Hetherington of NFL.com, Heyward lands at No. 98 on the list, a whopping 45 spots lower than he was in 2023.
"The six-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro struggled in 2023 after being ranked within the top 50 in the last two seasons," Hetherington wrote. "Heyward sustained a groin injury in Week 1 and struggled to find his stride after recovering from surgery and a stint on IR. His two sacks were the lowest in his career since 2012, and his 33 combined tackles were the lowest since 2016."
The fall is understandable given the fact that Heyward had his worst season in many years. Heyward's two sacks and 33 combined tackles were his lowest totals since 2012 and 2016, respectively.
But, as Hetherington noted in her write-up, there's some important context behind that showing. Heyward suffered a groin injury early in the season that forced him to miss six games, and he never really seemed to get on track after returning.
Heyward's lackluster 2023 season came at a terrible time for him, as the 35-year-old is seeking a contract extension. He is entering the final year of his current deal in 2024 and the two sides have yet to come to an agreement.
Thus far, the NFL has only released Nos. 100-91 and will continue unveiling the list in the days and weeks ahead.
