Steelers Now
On Sunday’s SportsCenter, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN revealed encouraging news in regard to T.J. Watt’s contract situation with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fowler believes Watt will get what he is seeking and become the highest-paid pass rusher in the NFL.
“Steelers, I’m sensing are optimistic they can reach a deal with Watt eventually. My sense is that he will probably be the highest-paid pass-rusher in the league when this is all said and done,” Fowler said. “He wants to be a Steeler for life, the Steelers want that, he’s a legacy-type player. They believe at 30 years old he still has several good years left. They’re just gonna have to come up with a number and a good guarantees structure.”
NFL insider James Palmer also believes there’s a good chance Watt will surpass AFC North rival Myles Garrett’s record-breaking deal.
“I’m hearing there’s a chance Watt gets past $40 [million per season],” Palmer said on Bleacher Report’s NFL Insider Notebook. “He has every right to ask for it. I’ve talked on here a lot about the comparisons between him and Myles Garrett. The numbers are almost identical in every aspect in terms of superlatives and in terms of numbers, and they came in the same draft class. I mean, he has every right to try to get that.”
The Browns made Garrett the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history this offseason by giving him a contract extension that pays him $40 million per year. Meanwhile, Watt is scheduled to earn just $21.05 million in salary in 2025, none of which is guaranteed.
Watt is coming off the least-productive full season of his NFL career, but he still proved to be a difference maker while recording 11.5 sacks and a league-leading six forced fumbles.
Unlike Schefter and Palmer, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network hasn’t got an indication that Watt will surpass Garrett.
“I still believe it’s gonna work out. But I hadn’t heard that number,” Rapoport said. “And I hadn’t heard that anything is imminent.”
“If he gets more than Myles, I would say that is awesome for T.J.,” he said. “These are the guys you pay. He’s great. He’s a good guy. He is the face of the franchise.”
Rapoport added that he thinks there’s a long way to go until Watt and the Steelers reach a deal. Watt could have a hold-in during training camp like he did in 2021.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Insider Expects T.J. Watt to Top Myles Garrett’s Record-Setting Contract
