The Las Vegas Raiders and former Pittsburgh Steelers fullback/tight end Connor Heyward have agreed to terms on a two-year deal worth a maximum value of $5.5 million, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The deal includes $2 million in guarantees.
According to Rapoport, the Steelers wanted Connor Heyward back, the brother of defensive tackle Cam Heyward. Ultimately, he chose new beginnings in Las Vegas, a chance to play under new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak.
Heyward, 27, was selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Michigan State. He’s been a member of Pittsburgh’s tight end room for the last four seasons, also seeing time at fullback.
For his career, Heyward has hauled in 44 passes for 379 yards and three touchdowns. This past season, he rushed for 43 yards and the first two scores of his career on the ground.
The Raiders are making moves
He will join a Raiders squad which has undergone major construction in free agency. Las Vegas, which owns the No. 1 overall pick in next month’s draft, had money to spend. So far, they’ve notably signed center Tyler Linderbaum, wide receiver Jalen Nailor, linebacker Nakobe Dean, linebacker Quay Walker, defensive end Kwity Paye, cornerback Taron Johnson, and cornerback Eric Stokes. Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby is back on the roster — for now — after the Baltimore Ravens pulled out of the blockbuster deal.
The Raiders finished 3-14 in 2025 and are making a big effort to turn it around in 2026. Next up is landing their quarterback of the future. The expectation is that they will select Indiana‘s Fernando Mendoza with the first overall selection.