However, there aren’t many downsides to the Steelers giving Heyward a pay bump. It’s a good look to reward one of the team’s top defensive players over the past decade-plus, and with over $35 million in top-51 cap space, they have plenty of room to make the financial details work.

"I walked out there, like, 'what the hell just happened?'" Rodgers said on teammate Cam Heyward's podcast. "I told the line, 'Don't you ever let that happen again.' I said, 'We gotta protect each other.