Heath Miller gets two-year extension in restructure
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller (83) during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Pittsburgh won 38-31. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Steelers recently restructured the contract of veteran tight end Heath Miller, who was set to make $6.04 million next season and count a whopping $9.5 million against the cap. Those totals were simply untenable for the Steelers, especially since they slapped productive outside linebacker Jason Worilds with the transition tag. Worilds signed the tag yesterday and is working with the Steelers to sign a long-term deal, but they still need the cap space in order to fill several positions of need and improve their cap situation.
Tom Pelissero of the USA Today reports that Miller’s contract restructure on Monday included a two-year extension, meaning that he is now under contract through 2016. He will make $4 million in base salary in 2015 and 2016, which is a reasonable amount of money for a 32-year-old tight end who is a key part of the Steelers offense as both a receiver and blocker.
Miller will count about $6.1 million against the cap this upcoming season, and that’s still a significant hit for the Steelers. However, it’s obviously less pronounced than a $9.5 million cap hit, and the $3.4 million that the Steelers have saved will give them some more breathing room. Last season, Miller caught 58 passes for 593 yards, and he should have more touchdowns next season than he did last year (thank you Jerricho Cotchery).