The Steelers’ Strict Contract Negotiation Policy: Balancing Football and Business in the Midst of Free Agency

The Steelers have a strict policy of not negotiating contracts during the season, and General Manager Omar Khan has reaffirmed this stance. This means that players such as James Daniels, Justin Fields, Pat Freiermuth, Najee Harris, and Russell Wilson, who are set to become free agents in 2025, will not receive new deals until after the season unless negotiations are completed before it begins.

Khan emphasized the importance of focusing on football during the season while acknowledging the business aspect of contract negotiations. Extending contracts for Fields and Wilson before the season could be risky as their performance throughout the season could impact their value. However, waiting until after the season to negotiate new deals also carries a risk of potentially increasing players’ asking prices.

Cameron Heyward is eager for an extension but time is running out for negotiations to take place before the season starts. He missed the voluntary offseason program and is entering his final year under contract that pays him $16 million this year. Khan expressed a focus on current season’s priorities indicating that contract talks for other players will have to wait until after the season concludes.