Behind the Steel Curtain
Watt is expected to become the highest-paid defender in football once again.
As the Steelers-T.J. Watt contract saga continues, NFL insiders remain confident that Pittsburgh will find a way to extend the seven-time Pro-Bowler.
However, the sticking point seems to be what most expected: guarantees and length, not the actual cash. The former Defensive Player of the Year is widely expected to become the highest-paid defender in the league once again.
“The Steelers stand willing to pay (Watt),” said NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on The Rich Eisen Show July 3. “I would tell you, based upon my read of the situation ... I believe that they will find a way — if not before training camp, then before the season — to get that done.
“It is gonna be north of Myles Garrett. It is gonna be upwards of $40 million per year, which then, in turn, is going to have an impact on some of these other pass-rushers that are looking for new deals as well.
“The question becomes ... what’s the structure of that, what are the guarantees in that contract?”
Garrett, at age 30, is currently the highest-paid edge rusher (and defender in general) in the NFL following his four-year, $160 million deal with the Cleveland Browns this offseason. The Texans’ Danielle Hunter (31 years old) and the Raiders’ Maxx Crosby (28) are next on the list, making $35.6 million and $35.5 million per year on their current contracts, respectively.
Watt’s current deal, which made him the highest-paid defender in the NFL in 2021, averages $28 million per season. He’s currently on the last year of that extension.
Previous reports indicated the Steelers already have a deal on the table for Watt, even if the two sides remain apart.
Pelissero noted that Watt has a lot of leverage — it doesn’t make sense for the Steelers to trade the pass-rusher given the team’s recent investments in veteran stars. And even if the team did want to shop Watt on the trade market, they’d likely have a hard time finding appropriate compensation given Watt’s age. He’ll turn 31 in October.
“Do I anticipate that T.J. Watt gets traded? No,” said Pelissero, adding, “Never say never.
“I wouldn’t rule anything out. There’s a lot of different ways this can go, certainly. You know that T.J. Watt is frustrated at this point that things are not worked out here. What do I see being the most likely way that this sorts itself out? Sometime between now and (the Steelers opener), they end up getting a deal done with T.J. Watt.
“It is going to be big money. ... Pending any other deals that get done between now and then, I believe we’re going to see a reset in the edge market again.”
The Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson, who led the league in sacks last season, as well as the Cowboys’ Micah Parsons, are also hoping for new contracts before the 2025 season.
Pelissero noted that the Steelers have some extra wiggle...
