More than a decade into his career, I think it’s fair to say that Cameron Heyward has established himself as one of the great players in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers, one of the most storied franchises in the history of the sport. And with a history as deep as theirs, it’s not easy for a player of this generation to enter that conversation.
But that wasn’t what was being talked about a decade ago. A first-round pick in 2011, the 31st-overall draft pick out of Ohio State, Heyward spent most of his first two seasons in observation mode, watching and learning behind established veterans along a highly proven defensive line.