Steelers Now
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin did not hold back when asked about the absence of linebacker T.J. Watt.
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt is absent from mandatory minicamp as he’s looking for a new contract. Head coach Mike Tomlin did not hold back when asked about the matter on Tuesday.
“Certainly, we’d like him to be here, but certainly not surprised about where we are,” Tomlin said. “We’ve expressed a desire to get the business done. He has as well, and so, we’ll continue to work. We’ve been here before.”
Watt has not been around the team since cryptically throwing up the deuces on Instagram a few months ago. He did not attend the two-week voluntary OTAs at all and will now be subject to $104,768 in fines if he skips all three days of the mandatory minicamp.
The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year’s current deal is set to expire at the end of the 2025 season and is likely looking for one that meets or beats the $40 million per year that the Cleveland Browns gave Myles Garrett earlier this offseason.
Watt is deserving of a new deal as the Steelers’ best player and heartbeat of the team. The 30-year-old is coming off the least-productive full season of his NFL career but still proved to have plenty of good football left in him while recording 11.5 sacks and a league-leading six forced fumbles.
He may have to wait a little bit longer, though. Pittsburgh is likely keeping its options open with the hopes of adding another playmaker after trading wide receiver George Pickens last month.
Once that business is handled, the Steelers will then be more than happy to give Watt the payday he desires. It remains to be seen how long Watt is willing to wait until he would potentially make things ugly, but Tomlin doesn’t seem to be worried if Watt’s time in Pittsburgh could be coming to an end.
“No,” Tomlin stated when asked if there’s concern about Watt’s future with the team.
Watt’s current deal is a four-year, $112 million contract. He is set to earn $21.05 million in salary in 2025, none of which is guaranteed.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Mike Tomlin Gets Honest About T.J. Watt’s Mandatory Minicamp Absence: ‘Not Surprised About Where We Are’
