If you thought Cameron Heyward was one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL last season, you weren't alone. At 35 years old, the ageless wonder had a phenomenal showing in 2024 that resulted in All-Pro honors.
This led to a 90.1 overall PFF grade, which ranked second among all interior defenders last season. In May, Pro Football Focus released their 2025 defensive tackle rankings, in which they had Heyward third, behind only Chris Jones and Dexter Lawrence.
But if you ask NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, not all of them hold the same opinion of Heyward.
That's exactly what ESPN's Jeremy Fowler did. ESPN asked a panel of coaches, execs, and scouts to rank their top 10 defensive tackles in the NFL entering the 2025 season, and Heyward barely cracked the list, coming in at No. 10 behind players like Nnamdi Madubuike, Leonard Williams, DeForest Buckner, and Vita Vea.
"He was healthier," one AFC executive said of Heyward. "Got past the nagging injuries from 2023 and performed back up to his standard. He's been good for a long time."
These underwhelming rankings leave a sour taste in the mouths of Steelers fans who watched the powerful defensive tackle manhandle offensive linemen last season. But these rankings come with a projection for the 2025 season, and it's clear that those around the league think Heyward will start slowing down.
Cam Heyward might not be the same dominant player for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025
Now 36, Heyward is seemingly playing on borrowed time. The only other defensive lineman in the NFL as old as the Pittsburgh Steelers star who's still going strong is Calais Campbell, who, like Cam, found a way to outperform all expectations in his old age.
The drop-off is inevitable at some point. We know this.
It's unreasonable to expect Heyward to expect a player who's already passed the typical retirement age to go on collecting 71 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, 11 passes defended, eight sacks, and 20 quarterback hits like he did in 2024.
But just last season, Heyward earned six vote points for the Defensive Player of the Year award while nabbing First-Team All-Pro honors and Pro Bowl recognition.
Yes, Heyward is going to slow down eventually, but after watching him play some of the best football in his career last season, I wouldn't be the one to bet on his decline happening this year. NFL execs, coaches, and scouts are too low on Heyward entering the 2025 season, and he could once again be one of the best in the league at his position this year.