July 3: Watt doesn’t just want to reset his positional market; he wants to be the “highest-paid non-quarterback in the league,” according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via the Rich Eisen Show). That bar is currently set by Bengals wideout Ja’Marr Chase at $40.25MM per year. Watt would join fellow AFC North edge rusher Myles Garrett as the only defensive players with an APY over $40MM.
Such a contract would require a five-year deal on the Steelers’ end, per Dulac, keeping Watt in Pittsburgh through his age-36 season. The team may have some concerns about Watt’s game declining with age, but they are still willing to sign him to another long-term contract and believe they will come to an agreement before the season. Additionally, Dulac notes, the Jalen Ramsey trade has no financial bearing on the Steelers’ plans regarding Watt.
July 2: T.J. Watt‘s next contract was always expected to approach the top of his position, but it sounds like the former Defensive Player of the Year could reset the market altogether. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently stated that Watt will “probably” become the highest-paid pass rusher on his next deal.
“The Steelers, I’m sensing, are optimistic that they can reach a deal with Watt eventually,” Fowler said during a recent appearance on ESPN2 (h/t Barkley Truax of On3.com). “My sense is that he will probably be the highest-paid pass rusher in the league. When this is all said and done, 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 going to have to come up with a number and a good guarantee structure. He did miss minicamp, so Pittsburgh has a lot of work to do. But typically, Pittsburgh perks up in these things around training camp and late July.”
Watt is eyeing his third Steelers contract, and it sounds like this next pact could once again break records. Watt’s expiring four-year, $112MM contract ($80MM guaranteed) once made him the highest-paid defender in NFL history. With an average annual value around $28MM, Watt now sits seventh among edge rushers. Myles Garrett recently topped the market with a $40MM AAV; while Watt could temporarily leap the Cleveland pass rusher, impending deals for Aidan Hutchinson and Micah Parsons could quickly create a new benchmark.
Watt skipped out on mandatory minicamp as he pursued a new contract, subjecting him to more than $100K in fines. Teams reportedly reached out to the Steelers about a potential trade, although the organization has continued to express optimism that they’ll eventually agree to a new contract. Both sides are now working to wrap up negotiations by training camp, although it sounds like they continue to haggle over guarantees.
Watt’s age-30 season saw him compile 11.5 sacks and six forced fumbles, leading to him earning a second-team All-Pro nod. The Steelers are clearly confident that Watt can continue to contribute well into his 30s, but that hasn’t stopped the front office from considering some depth options. Alex Highsmith inked a four-year extension in 2023, and the team recently used a fourth-round pick on Jack Sawyer.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this article.
So dumb. Paying a player who can be negated by running the opposite way or using a chip block a contract worthy of a QB is so shortsighted. Good luck resigning Broderick Jones if he becomes a stud LT.
I sincerely hope you’re joking.
About which part?
The guys who can limit and dictate what an offense does aren’t worth much part?
Or the Broderick Jones becoming a stud LT part?
Either could be elite satire.
Broderick Jones becoming elite jumped out as especially delusional
Perhaps ElGuapo will be the next Steelers GM after they fire that big dummy Omar Kahn 🙄
I get your points but this team cant win without him. He can also rush from either side and stop the run. He does get worn down by the end of the year and hopefully, Herbig will make up the difference this season.
Broderick, can be found at the casino.
“He’s a legacy type player”.
Which would be great if the Steelers were still playing with the rosters they had in the 70s.
Watts is nuts if thinks he’s getting $40M per year at his age and coming off of a down year.
“With TJ Watt: The Steelers have an all-time record of 79-40-2 when TJ Watt plays a full game.
Without TJ Watt: The Steelers have a record of 1-10 when TJ Watt is not playing.”
That’s the problem!
When you put such a huge percentage of your total budget into one player you live or die with their health and success. That’s a pretty questionable strategy with older players.
“Several good years left”. They better believe he has great years left for that money. Best defensive player over the last 5 years though, IMO.