The NFL has a new highest-paid defensive player. Days away from Week 1, the Steelers and T.J. Watt ended their impasse. Watt agreed to terms on a four-year deal worth more than $112MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Watt will receive $80MM fully guaranteed on a contract that averages more than $28MM annually, Rapoport adds, taking the younger Watt superstar past Joey Bosa among defenders. This certainly looks like a big win for the All-Pro Steelers edge rusher, after he and the Steelers haggled over guarantees at the 11th hour.
Watt’s fully guaranteed figure also tops Bosa’s $78MM on a deal that saw the Steelers break their precedent of not including guaranteed money beyond the first year of extensions. This will bring the two-time All-Pro defender back into the fold ahead of his fifth season. Watt’s pact also surpasses Ben Roethlisberger‘s for guaranteed money in Steelers history; Big Ben’s 2015 extension included $60.75MM guaranteed at signing. Roethlisberger spent this week lobbying for the team to get a Watt deal done, whatever the cost.
The accomplished outside linebacker resumed practicing in full this week, after he went to the increasingly popular hold-in measure during training camp. While Watt only partially went through with a hold-in, participating in non-team portions during preseason workouts, the Steelers have put this matter to rest by rewarding a homegrown talent.
This will be Watt’s age-27 season. Thursday’s agreement prevents a 2022 franchise tag and will tie him to the Steelers through the 2025 campaign. Pittsburgh prefers to finalize its extensions ahead of the regular season. The team deviating from its usual guarantee structure will surely be of interest to Minkah Fitzpatrick, who will be on track for a market-setting extension next year.
Although Watt led the NFL with 15 sacks last season, his 61 quarterback hits placed him well apart from everyone else. No other player compiled more than 45 (Bosa) in 2020. Watt’s 2017 arrival has coincided with the Steelers leading the NFL in sacks in each of the past four seasons. On a Pittsburgh team that lost a few key starters — including longtime outside linebacker starter Bud Dupree — in free agency, Watt will be counted on to reprise his dominant form.
To all Cowboys fans. Taco long gone and TJ is one of the best. Any regrets?
As a Packer fan I have a big time Kevin King regret. Every Packer fan wanted T.J. to stay home in Wisco.
Watt was already gone
The Packers traded back from the 29th pick and took King in the second round. Watt went 30th.
Kind of, GB had the pick before TJ Watt was drafted but traded it to Cleveland and got the first pick in the second round, 4 picks later, and took King. They could have had TJ Watt had they not traded.
If we had taken him I’m not sure how we would have afforded that extension. We’re already in cap hell currently.
If the Pack would have taken him that CAP hell would have been been more like a really big hot spring.
Worth every cent.
Here we go
28 million per season for a guy on defense is insane. Look at Khalil mack, Aaron donald and how there teams have faired. Yikes
The Watt’s and the Bosa’s could buy the NFL soon
I was yelling at the screen the whole first round for the Packers to draft him that year ♂️
Hell, I was, and I’m not even a Packer fan.
Glad the Falcons took Takk McKinley instead of this bum
“Every coach should have a Watt. I got my Watt.” – Tomlin
Pay him and pay Fitzpatrick and figure everything else out from there.
Tremendous athlete. Body and soul of the Steelers, T.J. deserves every penny.