
Steelers' Cam Heyward delivered 'Welcome to the NFL' moment with massive hit on Giants RB
Cam Heyward's terrifying presence on defense served as another player's 'Welcome to the NFL' moment.'
According to Giants RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., Heyward's massive hit in Week 8 last season was an eye-opener as to how 'different' the NFL really is:
"It was Cam Heyward," Tracy said on NFL Network's Good Morning Football. "He's in the middle, obviously — he's a big dude, you can't miss him. I'm doing my inside zone and I'm thinking the gap is there. If you're a running back, you understand that like the hole is there, until it's not. And Cam Heyward, he's two-gapping, so he's making it look like it's there, and I try to hit in there. And this man hit me so hard. He hit me so hard to where I hit my head on the ground, and I just kind of had to lay there for a little bit. I needed a moment just to catch my breath, and to understand, 'Yeah, I'm in the NFL. They're just a little different.'"
A little over a month ago, Raiders center Jackson Powers-Johnson claimed Heyward was responsible for his 'Welcome to the NFL' moment as well, with Tracy's recent example only further proving just how dominant the Steelers veteran truly is.
Heyward's former Steelers teammate, QB Russell Wilson, is gearing up to lead the Tracy and the Giants' offense in 2025 — but the running back might not get to play with Mr. Unlimited for long, as one insider predicted that rookie Jaxson Dart could usurp the starting QB role in New York sooner rather than later.
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But that approach, combined with Miami's Day 3 strategy, left the organization to look towards the undrafted free agent ranks to address a receiving corps that looks dangerously thin behind Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and free-agent signing Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Of the four first-year wideouts added after the draft, Armstrong looks to be the best bet to crack the roster. The 6-4, 202-pounder can add a different flavor to Mike McDaniel's aerial attack by providing Tua Tagovailoa with a possession receiver who can thrive in contested-catch scenarios. Tight end Jalin Conyers also could push for a spot, especially with Jonnu Smith's contract standoff yet to produce a resolution. Seth McLaughlin, C, Cincinnati Bengals A torn Achilles suffered last November no doubt weighed down the draft stock of McLaughlin, who was a fixture for Alabama's front before transferring to Ohio State and winning the Rimington Trophy last year. If not for the ailment, the 6-4, 304-pounder would have had a strong chance to be selected given his track record as a heady blocker capable of compensating for his pedestrian frame and athleticism. On a Bengals line that has struggled to afford Joe Burrow with any steady protection, McLaughlin could be an intriguing understudy to Ted Karras, though he'll have to 2024 seventh-round pick Matt Lee for the role. An undrafted free agent could also claim a job on the other side of the ball, as defensive tackles Howard Cross III – who played under new Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden at Notre Dame – and Eric Gregory will try to make a push at a spot where Cincinnati has long underperformed. Ben Chukwuma, OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Anyone guessing who landed the highest guaranteed payout among undrafted free agents probably wouldn't land on an offensive tackle from Georgia State who started for a little more than one season and didn't earn all-conference honors. 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Da'Quan Felton, WR, New York Giants Any question about the Giants' satisfaction with their wide receiver depth after the draft was quickly answered by the team signing five undrafted players at the position. Of those brought on, Felton might be the most fascinating - and have the best chance of securing a backup job. The 6-5, 213-pound target sizes up as a natural partner for Russell Wilson given his knack for hauling in contested catches downfield. With few other big bodies in New York's receiving corps, Felton could hold down a unique role while becoming a more precise route runner and eliminating the drops that have long plagued him. All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.