The Pittsburgh Steelers are no strangers to disrespect, but when veteran defensive tackle Cameron Heyward continues to defy Father Time at 37 years old, you give him his flowers whenever possible. ESPN apparently didn't get the memo.
In ESPN's new top 100 players of the 2026 season prediction, Heyward, still considered by many to be a top-three defensive lineman, was ranked as the No. 70 player in the league.
"Age is just a number for Heyward. Since turning 35 before the 2024 season, he has 17 passes defensed, 11.5 sacks and 19 QB hits," ESPN's Brook Pryor wrote. "And though Heyward has been a mainstay on Pittsburgh's defensive line, the team has beefed up the trenches in recent drafts seemingly in preparation for life without him. But Heyward keeps
returning and playing at a high level. This season, he'll have the added wrinkle of adjusting to new coordinator Patrick Graham's system."
Surprisingly enough, Heyward was ranked No. 58 last season. His performance in 2025, which resulted in Second-Team All-Pro honors, should have resulted in his ranking trending up, not down.
It seems like Heyward will once again have to use the disrespect as fuel for another All-Pro-caliber season, one that's likely more important than any other as the Steelers' Super Bowl window appears to be closing fast.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers' Cam Heyward gets surprising downgrade in ESPN's top 100 player rankings
