Steelers Uniforms, Defensive Change, Heyward’s Contract

The 2015 NFL Draft has come and gone and your Pittsburgh Steelers 2015 draft class is being inked up to contracts. There are just a few more phases of the offseason training program before the team breaks in June before training camp. While the new Steelers get acclimated with the Steel City we’ll be busy looking for mentions of your Black & Gold so we’ve got you covered. Here’s your Steelers Morning Huddle for Friday, May 22^nd.

Best. Uniforms. Ever.

He clearly wasn’t talking about the bumblebee throwbacks but ESPN’s uniform guru (apparently that’s a thing) Paul Lukas says your Pittsburgh Steelers have the best looking uniforms in the NFL. He ranked the Steelers ahead of the Raiders, Packers and Bears for their simple-yet-stylish uniforms.

Lukas cites the classic and traditional ways the Steelers have maintained their uniforms over the years as the reason for their high ranking. FYI this doesn’t give you license to keep wearing that old Santonio Holmes Steelers jersey around like its ok. It’s time to get a new jersey.

What does Butler have in store?

The Steelers will start OTAs on Tuesday and Teresa Varley reminds us that this will be the first time that the defense will get a chance to see what changes new defensive coordinator Keith Butler have in store this season. Up until now the team’s offseason workout programs have only included weight room stuff and conditioning but Tuesday they’re allowed drills without contact.

Keith Butler takes over the Steelers defense that will look more different this season than it has in several years with not only his replacing Dick LeBeau but the absence of Ike Taylor, Troy Polamalu and Brett Keisel will surely be noticeable as well.

What remains to be seen, however, is how noticeable the change of the defense will be with Butler, who worked under LeBeau for his entire Steelers coaching career up until now. One would guess that Butler would have to at least simplify the defense, to make it more realistic and available for the younger players to get out on the field sooner, a necessity for the Steelers now that they’ve gone through this transition.

Heyward is next in line

Ray Fittipaldo of the PPG reminds us that Cameron Heyward is one of two starters entering the final year of their rookie contracts this season. Heyward was a first-round pick by the Steelers in 2011 and had his fifth-year option picked up last year by the team. Offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum is entering the final year of the four-year deal he signed as a seventh-round pick in 2012.

Ideally, the Steelers would most likely prefer to have both players resigned before training camp begins. Heyward would like his deal to be done sooner rather than later as well, according to Fittipaldo.

"“I’m not here to ruffle feathers or make waves. I’m not one of those guys who thinks about their contract while I’m here. I would love to have it done as soon as possible, but I’m not in any rush. I’ll let the cards fall where they might and continue to improve.” – Cameron Heyward"

Both Heyward and Beachum are in prime negotiating positions, however. The Steelers don’t have a whole ton of guys who could step in if they were to lose either of them this offseason. Hopefully it works out for all sides.

Next: Steelers Could Still Have Problems with Brady-less Patriots

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