Sportsnaut
The Pittsburgh Steelers front office has been busy this offseason, acquiring wide receiver DK Metcalf and cornerback Jalen Ramsey and then giving them raises. It comes at a time when edge rusher T.J. Watt is seeking a new deal that would make him one of the highest-paid NFL players, and negotiations reportedly aren’t going well.
Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, senior NFL reporter Adam Schefter of ESPN said Watt and the Steelers are “not close” on a long-term contract extension.
Related: Steelers insider reveals team’s long-term QB plan
Schefter also reported that NFL teams have “been discussing” a potential exploration of a trade for Watt. However, Pittsburgh “hasn’t shown any willingness” to move him at this point. Following the Steelers’ trade for Jalen Ramsey, there’s a belief around the league that teams will have more interest in inquiring about Watt’s availability.
There’s still no one around the league who truly believes that Watt will be traded. However, this is the second prolonged contract stalemate with the future Hall of Famer. The last time Pittsburgh went through this, a deal wasn’t signed until right before Week 1.
Related: Insider predicts how long Steelers’ negotiations with T.J. Watt last
History will likely repeat itself this time around. Watt wants both long-term security and a contract with an average annual value that is in line with his peers at $40-plus million per season. Pittsburgh seems comfortable with the $40-plus million AAV, but it’s the guarantees and length of the deal that remain sticking points in negotiations with the 30-year-old.
Heading into a contract year, Watt will likely be a “hold-in” during training camp this summer, but there’s no real risk of him sitting out regular-season games. Ultimately, the two sides will likely agree to terms on an extension in the first week of September that allows him to spend the next four-plus seasons in Pittsburgh.
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