Each AFC Team’s Largest 2026 Cap Hit
Let’s begin with a look at the AFC…
Justin Herbert, QB, Chargers ($46.35MM)
Herbert’s interception total climbed from three in 2024 to 13 last year, but one of the league’s worst offensive lines contributed to the increase in turnovers. The Chargers went the entire season without stud left tackle Rashawn Slater and most of it without excellent right tackle Joe Alt. Herbert took 54 sacks, the second-highest total in the game, behind a porous group of blockers. The 28-year-old still helped the Chargers to 11 wins and a playoff berth, but he and the offense flamed out in a 16-3 wild-card round loss to the Patriots.
The Chargers have since helped Herbert’s cause by replacing offensive coordinator Greg Roman with Mike McDaniel, snagging two quality tight ends (Charlie Kolar and David Njoku) to join Oronde Gadsden, and making interior O-line upgrades. Most importantly, Slater and Alt will be back. The arrow is pointing up for Herbert as he goes into the third season of a five-year, $262.5MM extension.
Chris Jones, DT, Chiefs ($44.85MM)
Patrick Mahomes‘ mega extension doesn’t kick in until 2027, leaving Jones atop the Chiefs’ cap hierarchy for another season. Jones, who is celebrating his 32nd birthday on Friday, continued to notch strong production during a shocking down year for the Chiefs. He racked up 25 QB hits, 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
While Pro Football Focus “only” ranked Jones’ overall performance 29th among 127 qualifying interior defensive linemen, he earned the site’s second-best pass-rushing grade at his position. Jones saw his three-year streak of first-team All-Pro selections end, but he made his seventh straight Pro Bowl in 2025.
Josh Allen, QB, Bills ($44.29MM)
Although he is about to enter his age-30 season with zero Super Bowl appearances, Allen remains on the shortlist of elite QBs. Frustrated with the franchise’s inability to capitalize on Allen’s presence, owner Terry Pegula fired longtime head coach Sean McDermott after an overtime loss to the Broncos in the divisional round. Allen played the first nine years of his career under McDermott. He is now playing for a familiar replacement in Joe Brady, who was Buffalo’s QBs coach from 2022-23 and the team’s offensive coordinator from 2024-25. Brady will continue to call the plays as a head coach.
The Bills’ Allen-led offense has never had issues scoring points with Brady at the controls. However, they will not get over the AFC hump and reach a Super Bowl unless their defense does a better job keeping points off the board in the postseason (if they get there). Allen has gone 8-7 in the playoffs despite a 101.5 passer rating, the fifth-best mark ever. The defense allowed a staggering 33.2 points per game in the Bills’ last six playoff defeats.
T.J. Watt, OLB, Steelers ($42MM)
The Steelers gave a nine-figure extension to backup outside linebacker Nick Herbig a month ago. In the immediate aftermath, there was speculation about the Steelers trading Watt ahead of his age-32 season. However, Watt (and fellow OLB Alex Highsmith) will stick around for at least another year.
At the height of his powers, Watt amassed 22.5 sacks en route to Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2021. He isn’t on that otherworldly level anymore, but Watt remains a defensive cornerstone. The eight-time Pro Bowler chipped in 19 QB hits, 10 TFL, eight pass deflections, seven sacks, three forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions in 14 games in 2025. He was PFF’s 31st-ranked edge defender among 119 qualifiers.
Deshaun Watson, QB, Browns ($40.96MM)
This is the only real albatross cap hit on the list. The Browns have been stuck with Watson since they astonishingly traded three first-round picks to the Texans in 2022 and then gave him a fully guaranteed $230MM extension. While Watson was a three-time Pro Bowler at the time, he also sat out the previous season amid a contract dispute and dozens of sexual assault allegations. Watson’s off-field conduct led to an 11-game suspension, which he served at the beginning of what has been a disastrous Browns tenure.
He made 19 forgettable starts before rupturing his Achilles in October 2024. He ruptured it again while rehabbing in January 2025. Watson missed all of last season, but to the chagrin of Browns fans, he is returning as the front-runner to win the starting job over Shedeur Sanders. Although this is the last season of Watson’s ill-fated contract, he will remain on the Browns’ books until 2029.
Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals ($37.6MM)
Burrow has ranked among the sport’s top passers throughout his six-year career, but injuries have held him out of sizable portions of three seasons. Most recently, a toe injury sidelined him for nine games last year. The Bengals went 1-8 without Burrow, 6-11 overall, and missed the playoffs for the third year in a row. The team is a popular pick to rebound in 2026 as long as the 29-year-old Burrow stays healthy. It’s easy to see why. To complement the superb offensive core of Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Chase Brown, the club has made multiple splashes to upgrade what was one of the league’s worst defenses in 2025. Defensive tackles Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen, edge rushers Boye Mafe and Cashius Howell, and safety Bryan Cook are now in the fold.
Burrow is excited to get some much-needed help on the other side of the ball. “I think this is the most talented roster that we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Burrow declared in May.
Maxx Crosby, DE, Raiders ($35.79MM)
Crosby remains the Raiders’ largest cap charge, though they came very close to cutting ties with him in March. They agreed to trade the five-time Pro Bowler to the Ravens for two first-round picks, but it collapsed when Crosby failed the Ravens’ physical. At that point, Crosby was just two months into his recovery from surgery on a torn left meniscus. With Crosby further distancing himself from that procedure, teams have continued to show interest in acquiring him. As of now, though, he remains on track to open his age-29 season donning the Silver and Black.
Despite playing through knee problems last year, Crosby remained a force. He piled up 73 tackles, 28 TFL, 20 QB hits, 10 sacks, six pass deflections, two forced fumbles and a pick in 15 games. If Crosby continues looking like his usual self in September and October, he will likely be popular in trade rumors leading up to the Nov. 3 deadline.
Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens ($34.9MM)
Jackson didn’t quite look like his two-time MVP-winning self during a truncated 2025. The all-world dual threat entered the season with an eye-popping 70-24 record as a starter, but he went just 6-7 last year while battling knee, ankle, toe and back injuries. After going 8-9 and narrowly missing the playoffs, the Ravens fired long-tenured head coach John Harbaugh. Jackson played the first eight years of his career under Harbaugh, whom the Ravens replaced with defensive guru Jesse Minter.
If healthy, there is little doubt Jackson will rebound and lead a talented Baltimore roster back to contention. The main question is whether the Ravens and Jackson will eventually work out an extension. Both sides seem optimistic it will eventually happen, but with no agreement in place when the new league year opened in March, the Ravens restructured his current pact. While the move lowered Jackson’s cap hit by $15MM and created $40MM in spending space, it left the two parties without long-term security. As things stand, Jackson is only under wraps through 2027.
Milton Williams, DT, Patriots ($28.5MM)
In March 2025, a few weeks after winning a Super Bowl with the Eagles, Williams moved to New England on a four-year, $104MM payday with $63MM guaranteed. Williams and Christian Barmore comprised a formidable duo up front, though an ankle injury limited the former to 12 games in his first season with the Patriots. While tallying eight TFL, eight QB hits and 3.5 sacks, Williams helped the Pats to a stunning 14-3 regular-season record. The 290-pounder then added seven tackles and three sacks over four playoff games, including Williams’ second straight Super Bowl. He was denied another championship, though, as the Patriots were no match for the Seahawks in a 29-13 defeat.
DeForest Buckner, DT, Colts ($26.6MM)
A cavalcade of major injuries, including Buckner’s, led to the Colts’ downfall in 2025. After starting a white-hot 7-1, the injury-plagued club finished 8-9 and extended its playoff drought to a half-decade. Buckner missed seven games with a neck issue, depriving the Colts of one of their defensive linchpins. With the 32-year-old still in recovery as camp approaches, he is not a sure thing to take the field when the Colts kick off their season against the Ravens on Sept. 13. This much is clear: Indianapolis will have a much better chance of rebounding from last year’s Murphy’s Law second half if Buckner returns to full strength.
Dan Moore Jr., LT, Titans ($26.35MM)
While Moore has been a career-long starter since he entered the league as the Steelers’ fourth-round pick in 2021, the Titans turned heads when they handed him a four-year, $82MM deal with $50MM in guarantees in March 2025. Jones went on to start in all 16 of his appearances in his first Titans season, but he wasn’t particularly effective. PFF charged him with allowing eight sacks and taking seven penalties, and he ended the year as the site’s 57th-ranked tackle out of 78 qualifiers. Thanks in part to Moore’s struggles, QB Cam Ward took a league-high 55 sacks as a rookie. The Titans are counting on Ward, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick, to make a Year 2 leap. Better blindside protection would increase Ward’s chances of breaking out.
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars ($24MM)
After going No. 1 overall in the 2021 draft, Lawrence put together an uneven first four seasons in the NFL. It would have been fair to regard the former Clemson star’s career as somewhat underwhelming at this time a year ago, but then Lawrence found a new gear under offensive-minded head coach Liam Coen.
With Coen in his first year on the job, the Jaguars stormed to a 13-4 record and won the AFC South. Lawrence bounced back from an injury-limited 2024 to start all 17 games. In the process, he eclipsed the 4,000-yard mark as a passer for the third time and set career highs in touchdowns (38; 29 passing, nine rushing) and rushing yards (359). The 26-year-old earned a fifth-place finish in the MVP race for his efforts.
Mike McGlinchey, RT, Broncos ($23.78)
The Broncos lured McGlinchey from the 49ers with a five-year, $87.5MM offer in March 2023. The investment has worked out well for Denver. McGlinchey missed four games in 2024, but he returned to start all 17 games last year and help the Broncos to 14 wins and the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Aside from quarterback Bo Nix, no Broncos offensive player logged more snaps than McGlinchey. The 6-foot-8, 315-pounder played the second-most snaps (1,127) among all offensive tackles, per PFF, which ranked his performance 18th among 84 qualifying bookends.
Danielle Hunter, EDGE, Texans ($16.41MM)
This is a steal of a cap hit for one of the league’s most dominant pass rushers, but it is due to climb when Hunter’s $40.1MM extension kicks in next year. In the meantime, Hunter and fellow pass rusher extraordinaire Will Anderson Jr. should continue menacing opposing offenses in 2026. Hunter will turn 32 in October, but there are absolutely no signs of decline.
He amassed 15 sacks in 2025, his fourth straight season in the double digits and seventh in his 10-year career. The 6-5, 263-pounder also registered 22 QB hits, 15 TFL and three forced fumbles en route to second-team All-Pro honors. Hunter was PFF’s fifth-rated edge defender, while Anderson came in first. The Hunter-Anderson duo is the envy of the AFC.
Brandon Stephens, CB, Jets ($13.97MM)
The Jets brought in the former Raven on a three-year, $36MM agreement in March 2025. Unfortunately for the Jets and Stephens, their defense sputtered through a horrid season. The unit inexplicably failed to intercept a single pass, which was the second straight year Stephens went without a pick. Stephens tallied 73 tackles and nine passes defensed in 16 starts, but on 85 targets against him, opposing QBs completed 71.8% of attempts and put up a lofty 134.3 passer rating. As alarming as that looks, PFF still ranked Stephens a respectable 35th among 106 corners.
The Jets have since hired Brian Duker as their D-coordinator, though head coach/former defensive back Aaron Glenn will call the plays. Perhaps Stephens will benefit from Glenn’s expertise. Regardless, the 28-year-old remains a surefire starter going into his second season in New York. It is TBD whether free agent pickup Nahshon Wright or Azareye’h Thomas will start on the other side.
Zach Sieler, DT, Dolphins ($11.42MM)
The Dolphins no longer employ Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle, Jalen Ramsey or Minkah Fitzpatrick, leaving Sieler’s modest cap hit as the highest among their current players. Sieler is locked in on the three-year, $67.75MM extension he inked last August. Miami is now in the early stages of a full-blown rebuild under a new regime, but the 30-year-old has made it clear he wants to be a Dolphin for the rest of his career.
As for his recent work, Sieler entered last season aiming for a third straight 10-sack campaign. He ended up with 5.5 over a full 17-start season in which he led Dolphins D-linemen in snaps (780). Sieler also pitched in 47 tackles, 10 TFL and nine QB hits. PFF graded Sieler as a top-20 interior lineman in both 2022 and ’24, but he dropped to 58th (among 127 qualifiers) last season. Sieler will aim for a return to top form under defensive-minded head coach Jeff Hafley, who will call the plays, and DC Sean Duggan.
Information from Over the Cap was used in the creation of this post.
Steelers Will Not Trade T.J. Watt In 2026, Likely To Retain Alex Highsmith
Developing their share of rush linebackers going back to the Greg Lloyd/Chad Brown days, the Steelers have produced a long string of talent at this position. Nick Herbig is Pittsburgh’s latest OLB success story, and despite a history as a part-time starter, the former fourth-round pick received an eye-opening extension this week.
The Steelers gave Herbig a four-year, $100MM extension, one that matches the deal Odafe Oweh received from the Commanders in March. Herbig, 24, is now signed through the 2030 season. His signing has generated obvious questions about the long-term statuses of T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.
[RELATED: Steelers, TE Darnell Washington Agree On Extension]
Teams do not make a habit of carrying three lucrative edge rusher contracts on payrolls. As our Connor Byrne noted when discussing the Herbig extension Tuesday, the Steelers are spending a combined $84MM in AAV at edge rusher. Only the Texans ($96MM) outpace them, and Houston just authorized a record-smashing $50MM-per-year payday for Will Anderson Jr. and another extension for Danielle Hunter. Both those players have every-down roles in Houston, whereas Pittsburgh’s outlook is historically unusual.
While the Steelers once rostered All-Pros Lloyd, Brown, Jason Gildon and Hall of Famer Kevin Greene at once (1994-95), Brown and Gildon were developing on rookie contracts behind the lead ‘backers before Greene’s 1996 free agency exit; Brown then left as a 1997 FA. Highsmith also overlapped with Bud Dupree‘s franchise-tag year (2020), but the Steelers gave the younger player a key promotion a year later.
No other team is even carrying three edge rushers beyond $11MM — the Raiders’ Maxx Crosby–Kwity Paye–Malcolm Koonce trio that certainly was not designed to play together (due to the Ravens’ scrapped agreement to acquire Crosby) — the Steelers have Watt on a $41MM-AAV extension and Highsmith at $17MM per year. Highsmith is signed through the 2027 season, Watt through 2028.
Even with Herbig’s extension inviting speculation about Pittsburgh offloading one of its more experienced vets, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport said during a Pat McAfee Show appearance the team is expected to keep all three on its roster in 2026. Watt will not be traded, Rapoport said definitively, and Highsmith will be expected to be part of his seventh Steelers roster. After 2026, the Steelers likely have a decision to make. The Browns just traded Myles Garrett to presumably help in their pursuit of a long-term quarterback answer; Watt or Highsmith would serve as Steelers aid if/when one of them is dealt.
Re-signed before the Ravens backed out of their Crosby trade agreement, Koonce is also on a one-year deal. His $11MM AAV came into the week as the NFL’s highest as far as No. 3 edge rushers go. The Commanders also have Dorance Armstrong on a three-year, $30MM deal — one that sits behind, in terms of AAV, Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson — in third place among edge rushers on their payroll. The Seahawks just extended Derick Hall to go with DeMarcus Lawrence ($10.8MM per year) and Uchenna Nwosu ($9.8MM AAV). The Steelers carrying Watt’s upper-crust contract and now two other lucrative deals separates this situation from those and just about any other EDGE setup before it.
Herbig’s cap numbers are not yet known, but Steelers deals are typically clean. It should be expected Herbig will have a lower cap figure in 2026 before the extension bumps up his 2027 number. While that will seemingly make a move likely before the 2027 season, Herbig’s lower cap hit this year points to the Steelers (per McAfee staffer Mark Kaboly) dealing with that problem after the season and keeping the Watt-Highsmith-Herbig troika together for another year.
Highsmith, 29 in August, came up in trade rumors just before the draft. But those were quickly squashed. Coming off a 9.5-sack season, Highsmith is on a team-friendly contract that does not include any remaining guarantees. Watt’s three-year, $123MM extension contains fully guaranteed money in 2026 and ’27. The future Hall of Famer hopes to play several more seasons.
Watt, 31, managed just seven sacks in 14 games last season. But labeling him a declining player seems premature. He joins Cameron Heyward as Steelers front-seven cornerstones, with Herbig’s contract elevating him to such status as well.
No member of the trio has logged more than 10 snaps (per Pro Football Focus) as an inside D-lineman in a season. Watt did say (via Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams) he expects to move around in Patrick Graham‘s defense, but it remains to be seen if the Steelers will find ways to have all three well-paid rushers on the field together. This looks to be a 2026-only problem, and teams will likely be calling about Highsmith and Watt before 2027. For now, the Steelers have one of the NFL’s more interesting positional plans thanks to Herbig’s extension.
T.J. Watt Planning To Play In Week 18
JANUARY 2, 1:55pm: Watt confirmed (via ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor) he is planning to play in Week 18. The future Hall of Fame defender called the incident a “fluke,” per the AP’s Will Graves. Watt will refrain from the dry needling procedure for the time being.
JANUARY 2, 9:15am: The Steelers remain optimistic about Watt’s availability this weekend, though he has yet to be a full participant in practice, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. As a result, he explains, Pittsburgh is still in “wait-and-see mode” when it comes to their All-Pro edge rusher.
DECEMBER 30: The Steelers have gone three games in a row without star pass rusher T.J. Watt. With the AFC North title at stake in Week 18, Watt may return to face the Ravens on Sunday.
Head coach Mike Tomlin said he’s “optimistic about“ Watt’s “potential inclusion” in this week’s do-or-die showdown between division rivals (via Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports). Watt’s most recent appearance came in a 27-22 win over the Ravens in Week 14. He underwent surgery on a partially collapsed lung a few days later.
Watt suffered his injury during a dry needling session — a common treatment — at the team facility. The NFLPA quickly made contact with Watt afterward, though it’s unknown if he’ll take action against the Steelers’ medical staff.
The Steelers have been Watt’s only NFL team since he entered the league as the 30th pick in the 2017 draft. Pittsburgh signed Watt to a record-setting extension worth $123MM over three years last summer. The club awarded the former Defensive Player of the Year an eye-popping $108MM in fully guaranteed money.
Despite sitting out three games, Watt has earned his eighth straight Pro Bowl nod this season. The 31-year-old has racked up 53 tackles, 43 pressures, 18 QB hits, seven sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception in 2025. With a playoff berth on the line, Watt rejoining fellow edge rushers Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig against Baltimore would be ideal for Pittsburgh. That’s especially the case if the Ravens have two-time MVP-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson, whose status is uncertain as a result of a back injury.
Backup Tyler Huntley filled in for Jackson in a 41-24 win over the Packers in Week 17. Running back Derrick Henry‘s 216-yard, four-touchdown masterclass was the driving force in keeping the Ravens’ season alive in Lambeau Field on Saturday. The Watt-less Steelers could have clinched the division and eliminated the Ravens with a win on Sunday, but they fell 13-6 to the last-place Browns. An offense missing its two best wide receivers – the suspended D.K. Metcalf and the injured Calvin Austin – couldn’t get anything going in Cleveland.
There’s a chance Austin will come back from a hamstring injury in the regular-season finale, but Metcalf and injured tight end Darnell Washington won’t be available. With a shorthanded offense, the Steelers may need a stifling defensive performance to knock out the Ravens and earn their first AFC North crown since 2020. If that’s the case, Watt’s return would boost their chances.
Steelers’ T.J. Watt To Play In Club’s Next Meaningful Game
DECEMBER 28: There is good news on the Watt front. Per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link), Watt is in a “very good place” in terms of his health and is expected to play in the Steelers’ next meaningful game. If they defeat the Browns in Week 17 and clinch the AFC North as a result, Watt will sit out the regular season finale against Baltimore. If Pittsburgh loses to Cleveland, thus setting up a Week 18 bout with the Ravens for the division title and a playoff berth, Watt will suit up.
DECEMBER 27: The Steelers have ruled out Watt for Week 17. While Mike Tomlin said the Ravens’ result Saturday would affect his approach for Sunday’s Browns matchup, as the Steelers would be guaranteed the AFC North title with a Baltimore loss in Green Bay, Watt will not play regardless of outcome.
DECEMBER 24: Watt returned to practice on Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. His participation alone is a good sign for his health and indicates that he could play again this season, though the Steelers will understandably be cautious before exposing Watt to full-contact action. Also back at practice was third-year edge rusher Nick Herbig, per Pryor, who missed Sunday’s win over the Lions with a hamstring injury,
DECEMBER 22: Steelers star T.J. Watt has missed the past two games while recovering from surgery on a partially collapsed lung. Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound like he’s any closer to a return.
[RELATED: Steelers’ T.J. Watt Undergoes Surgery On Partially Collapsed Lung]
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the pass rusher’s return to play “remains murky and uncertain.” At the moment, Watt’s focus is solely on his recovery, with his potential return to field being considered “secondary.”
Of course, as the Steelers push for a playoff spot, Watt’s potential return will still command attention. Per Schefter, doctors will continue to monitor how Watt feels this week to determine if it’s even possible for him to suit up for Sunday’s matchup against the Browns. However, the ideal path would see Watt garner “more time to recover.” The former Defensive Player of the Year is expected to make a full recovery.
Watt was admitted to the hospital earlier this month with a lung injury. It was later determined that the collapsed lung was a result of a common dry needling procedure that he underwent at the team facility. He was quickly released from the hospital, but he’s yet to take the field since his injury.
The NFLPA was subsequently in contact with the player’s camp, although it’s uncertain if they’ll take any action against the Steelers franchise. Tyrod Taylor famously suffered a punctured lung while receiving a pain-killing injection in 2020; he later sued the Chargers for medical malpractice. After Watt inked a three-year extension this past offseason that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, it’s uncertain if he would look to take such a drastic stance against the franchise.
While the off-the-field narrative is worth watching, the Steelers are currently focused on their on-the-field product. Despite Watt being out of the lineup, the Steelers have won each of their past two games to take a two-game lead in the AFC North. A Watt-less defense would surely impact the team’s ability to make noise in the playoffs, but the Steelers can rest easy about their postseason chances regardless of the pass rusher’s status.
Steelers’ T.J. Watt Undergoes Surgery On Partially Collapsed Lung
DECEMBER 13: Dry needling is a common treatment for NFL players to relieve muscle pain, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Watt felt “extreme pain” after his dry needling session on Wednesday and was quickly sent to the hospital for treatment and further evaluation.
DECEMBER 12: Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt was admitted to the hospital with a lung injury on Wednesday. Watt has since undergone successful surgery to stabilize and repair a partially collapsed lung, his brother J.J. Watt announced. He’ll be released from the hospital on Friday.
While Watt is expected to make a full recovery, head coach Mike Tomlin announced that he will not play on Monday against the Dolphins (via Brooke Pryor of ESPN). The seven-time Pro Bowler is expected to return this season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Watt’s collapsed lung came as a result of a dry needling procedure he underwent at the team facility. The NFLPA has been in contact with Watt and his representation since then, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. It’s unclear if Watt or the union will take any action against the Steelers. Then-Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor suffered a punctured lung while receiving a pain-killing injection in September 2020. Two years later, he sued the Chargers’ doctor for medical malpractice.
Taylor received medical clearance to return to action a month after he punctured his lung. It seems Watt will come back quicker than that, though even a one-game absence is unwelcome news at this stage of the season. With four weeks remaining, the 7-6 Steelers are trying to hold off the Ravens (6-7) and Bengals (4-9) for the AFC North title. It’ll be more difficult to do so without Watt, who will miss his 12th career game in Week 15. The Steelers have gone 1-10 without him, Armando Salguero of OutKick notes.
The 31-year-old Watt has continued serving as one of Pittsburgh’s most effective players this season. He has racked up 53 tackles, 10 TFL, a team-high seven sacks, and three forced fumbles in 13 games. The Steelers have two other strong edge rushers in Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig, who have totaled 6.5 sacks apiece. They and fourth-round rookie Jack Sawyer, who has notched one sack while playing under 20% of defensive snaps, will have to pick up the slack while Watt’s out.
Steelers OLB T.J. Watt Hospitalized With Lung Injury
DECEMBER 12: Testing at the Steelers’ facility revealed a “tiny hole” in one of Watt’s lungs, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports (video link). That led to his hospitalization, and the issue has been addressed. A final determination for Week 15 has not yet been made, but Pelissero deems it unlikely that Watt – who merely needs time to recover at this point – will be available for Monday.
DECEMBER 11: Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt has been hospitalized due to a lung injury, per a team announcement.
The injury happened while Watt was receiving medical treatment at the Steelers’ facility on Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Head coach Mike Tomlin said on Thursday (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor) that Watt is still in the hospital undergoing additional testing which will determine his status for their Week 15 matchup against the Dolphins.
Watt, 31, has started all 13 of the Steelers’ games this season with an 82% snap share. He is having another excellent season with seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss, which rank first and second on the team. He has also been credited with 43 pressures, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required) which lead the Steelers and rank 19th in the NFL.
In other words, an absence from Watt would be a major blow to Pittsburgh’s defense, though they are positioned to withstand it in the short-term. The four-time All-Pro almost exclusively lines up on the left side of the defense with Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig splitting snaps on the right side. One of the two – likely Herbig – can fill some of Watt’s snaps off the left edge
Rookie Jack Sawyer will also be in line for some more opportunities. The second-round pick has appeared in every game this year but played just 182 snaps (19.4% snap share) without much production. Sawyer has primarily rotated in for Watt on the left side and should see an uptick if he cannot play. That could also result in a practice squad elevation for fourth-year defensive end DeMarvin Leal.
The Steelers will be monitoring Watt’s condition carefully over the next few days to evaluate his availability for Monday night’s game.
T.J. Watt Aiming To Play Several More Seasons; Payton Wilson Moving Toward Steelers’ Starting Lineup
As the Steelers have another contract issue with Cameron Heyward, the other half of the team’s longstanding pass-rushing duo will attempt to follow his career path. T.J. Watt, the second member of the NFL’s $40MM-per-year defender club, is not aiming to call it quits in the near future.
Although T.J. Watt watched brother J.J. Watt retire at 33 due largely to a heart condition, the All-Pro Steelers defender does not plan on retiring anytime soon. The recently extended outside linebacker said (via the Pat McAfee Show’s Mark Kaboly) he will aim to follow Heyward’s path and play several more seasons.
Entering Year 9, Watt already appears to have done enough to secure Hall of Fame entry. The 2017 first-round pick is a four-time first-team All-Pro, matching Michael Strahan‘s official single-season sack record and doing so in just 15 games back in 2021. While J.J. Watt is the only player in NFL history to have two official 20-sack seasons, T.J. nearly landed there after following up his 22.5-sack slate with a 19-sack 2023. T.J. Watt is the only NFLer to lead the league in sacks three times.
Watt’s third contract — a three-year, $123MM deal with a whopping $108MM guaranteed at signing — runs through the 2028 season. Staying at, or even near, his current form will call for another record — or near-record — payday by 2028. The Steelers neither negotiate in-season or hammer out extensions for non-contract-year players; this complicates Heyward’s contract quest ahead of his age-36 season. Watt (31 in October), however, has been able to bend the team on post-Year 1 guarantees — a path the organization does not like to traverse.
In terms of official sacks (since 1982), T.J. Watt is already in 31st (108) on the list. He is 15 away from the top 20. Motoring to a lucrative fourth contract, provided he can stay close to the stratospheric pace he has started on, could move the Steeler sack ace onto hallowed ground. Tenth place (Richard Dent/John Randle) is less than 30 sacks away (137.5). The only active players ahead of Watt on the list are much closer to the end of their respective careers — Von Miller (129.5), Cameron Jordan (121.5), Calais Campbell (110.5).
Shifting to Pittsburgh’s inside linebacker position, Patrick Queen looks close to having a new full-time running mate. Payton Wilson, a 2024 third-round pick, appears likely to see his usage increase from the 45% snap share he earned as a rookie. The NC State product — the 2023 Butkus award winner — is believed to be “miles ahead” in the race to play alongside Queen, Kaboly adds. Wilson started four of 17 games last season.
The Steelers also have Cole Holcomb and Malik Harrison at linebacker, but neither is projected to be a regular option at this point. Holcomb signed with the team to work as such and had been a starter before a severe knee injury, sustained in November 2023, kept him off the field throughout 2024. After a pay-cut agreement, Holcomb is due a nonguaranteed $2MM this year. The Steelers can cut the former Washington starter free of charge until his salary becomes guaranteed shortly before Week 1.
Harrison started 34 games with the Ravens, including seven last season after he eventually became the team’s Queen replacement alongside Roquan Smith. The Ravens let Harrison walk, and the Steelers added him on a two-year, $10MM deal. Harrison, 27, figures to have a role. But Pro Football Focus, on the strength of Wilson’s coverage ability, graded him as a top-20 ILB as a rookie. PFF slotted Wilson as a top-10 off-ball LB in coverage. Harrison does stand to provide insurance against Wilson not ascending as the Steelers hope.
Pittsburgh cleared a path for Wilson by letting two-year ILB starter Elandon Roberts defect to Las Vegas in free agency. Wilson and Roberts, though, had effectively split time. The latter carried a 44% snap rate in 2024. Wilson, who entered the NFL after having suffered season-ending injuries twice in college, is signed through the 2027 season. His rookie-deal terms complement Watt, Queen and Alex Highsmith, and it appears this season will provide a test to see if he can handle a busier role.
More On T.J. Watt’s Record-Setting Extension With Steelers
Despite being on the wrong side of 30, Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt just landed a record-setting three-year, $123MM extension, which keeps him under club control through 2028. The contract already looked like a win on paper for Watt, and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk passes along a few details highlighting just how far Pittsburgh was willing to go to keep the former Defensive Player of the Year in the fold.
It was previously reported that Watt’s new deal includes $108MM in full guarantees. According to Florio, that figure is comprised of a $40MM signing bonus, a fully-guaranteed 2025 base salary of $4MM, and fully-guaranteed base salaries of $32MM in 2026 and 2027. In other words, Watt secured a whopping three fully-guaranteed seasons of pay, which will obviously make it very difficult for Pittsburgh to move on before the end of the 2027 campaign.
Per OverTheCap.com, Watt will carry a $23.37MM cap hit this season, and that number jumps to $42MM in 2026 and 2027 and tops out at $46.05MM in 2028. From 2026 onward, Watt’s cap charges are projected to account for well over 10% of Pittsburgh’s total cap room, which the club is perhaps willing to stomach since it expects to have a rookie-contract quarterback in the starting lineup as early as Week 1 of the 2026 slate.
Still, if Watt continues to perform at a high level – as his extension plainly anticipates, despite reported misgivings from the team in that regard – it would not be surprising to see the Steelers restructure the deal down the line to create additional cap space. At present, only his 2028 pay, which includes a $15MM roster bonus and a $21.05MM base salary, is non-guaranteed, but the roster bonus does trigger on the third day of the 2028 league year.
The $41MM average annual value of Watt’s extension is a record for non-quarterbacks, as is the $108MM in full guarantees. The same can be said of the early-year cash flow ($76MM within two years, $108MM within three years). The $108MM figure even tops the $100MM in fully-guaranteed money the 49ers ponied up for QB Brock Purdy earlier this year. As compared to fellow premium EDGE talent, Watt’s full guarantees represent 87.8% of his extension value, while Myles Garrett‘s $88.8MM in full guarantees make up just 55.5% of his extension, which is one year longer (h/t TexansCap).
Of course, Watt’s deal will have ramifications beyond his own team. Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson, who has been seeking a new commitment from Cincinnati for several years, is perhaps the most obvious beneficiary, as he is two months younger than Watt and outpaced him by six sacks in 2024. It is difficult to say whether Hendrickson and the Bengals will be able to resolve their long-standing impasse, but Hendrickson certainly has no reason to shoot for anything less than a $41MM AAV.
And, as older players get paid at that level, the price tags of elite younger players like Micah Parsons (26) and Aidan Hutchinson (25 in August) will rise even higher.
Steelers, T.J. Watt Agree To Extension
The wait has ended for T.J. Watt and the Steelers to work out an extension. Team and player have agreed to terms on another monster pact.
Watt has landed a three-year, $123MM extension, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The pact includes $108MM in full guarantees. With an average annual value of $41MM, Watt has once again claimed the title of the league’s top earner for defensive players and all non-quarterbacks.
Myles Garrett reset the edge rush market when he signed a Browns pact averaging $40MM per year. Ja’Marr Chase did the same at the receiver position when his Bengals extension (carrying an AAV of $40.25MM) became official. To little surprise, Watt has surpassed both of those figures while helping to ensure he will finish his career in Pittsburgh. Progress has been made rather rapidly, as Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show notes no agreement was imminent as recently as six days ago.
Both parties in this case expressed a desire to work out a deal months ago, but Watt hinted at dissatisfaction with the early state of contract talks. Over time, this became one of many tense situations involving edge rushers around the league. A major domino has now fallen, though, and Watt is on the books through 2028. This agreement falls short of the length he was seeking, but the former Defensive Player of the Year has succeeded in moving the bar for pass rushers and securing multiple years of locked in money.
Watt has led the NFL in sacks on three occasions (2021-22 and 2024) and he has played in every game the past two seasons after a pec tear cost him notable time in 2023. However, a downturn in play late in the campaign and into the postseason last year was viewed as cause for concern on the Steelers’ part regarding a new deal. Watt already reset the market in 2021, but doing so as he enters his age-31 season obviously carries risk for the team. General manager Omar Khan and Co. are certainly banking on a major drop-off not taking place for several more years.
Watt has operated as the anchor of Pittsburgh’s EDGE group over the course of his All-Pro career, and he will remain in that role well beyond the coming season. Rumors about a potential trade circulated amidst his decision to skip minicamp, but a deal never seemed likely or imminent. A holdout (or at least hold-in) effort during training camp will now not be necessary to get this deal over the finish line, something which was the case last time for Watt.
Alex Highsmith has recorded at least six sacks in each of the past four years, and he remains on the books through 2027. He will remain a starter along the edge, with Nick Herbig and fourth-round rookie Jack Sawyer operating as rotational contributors. Watt (who has amassed 33 forced fumbles and 126 tackles for loss in his career) will be counted on to lead the way in terms of production once again this year and well beyond that point.
The seven-time Pro Bowler has yet to win a playoff game in his career, something Khan and the Steelers have aimed to change this offseason. Pittsburgh has aggressively pursued several new players through trade and free agency, breaking with standard practice in some regards. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, receiver D.K. Metcalf, cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay as well as tight end Jonnu Smith are among the new faces which will be relied on to end the Steelers’ drought for playoff wins in 2025.
Watt will of course also be a central figure in that effort. Regardless of if things go according to plan this year, though, he will remain in place for the foreseeable future.
T.J. Watt Seeking Market-Topping AAV, Four-Year Guarantee From Steelers?
The wait continues around the NFL for several high-profile edge rush contract situations to be sorted out. In the case of T.J. Watt and the Steelers, it remains to be seen if an extension agreement can be reached before Week 1. 
Watt has drawn trade interest from suitors, but even though the Steelers are evaluating his value the pending 2026 free agent is widely expected to stay in Pittsburgh for at least one more season. Ensuring his future beyond that point will require another lucrative investment on the team’s part, with Watt a strong candidate to once again reset the pass rush market. A clearer picture of his asking price seems to have emerged.
During Monday’s episode of Kaboly+Mack (video link), Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show laid out the parameters of what he is “pretty sure” Watt is seeking. Per Kaboly, the former Defensive Player of the Year is angling for a five-year contract with the first four years guaranteed at an average annual value higher than Myles Garrett‘s $40MM. Topping Garrett’s mark in terms of per-year compensation has long been expected, but a commitment of that length by the Steelers would certainly be notable.
As evidenced by the fact an agreement is still not in place, the Steelers are not – at least for now – willing to go to those lengths to retain Watt on a third contract. Entering his age-31 season, the seven-time Pro Bowler naturally faces questions about his ability to remain among the league’s top pass rushers over the course of his next deal. Watt’s level of play late in the 2024 campaign is believed to be a cause for concern from the team’s perspective, and projecting his production over the coming years will be key for general manager Omar Khan in arriving at an agreement in this case.
Deviating from standard organizational procedure in a number of ways, Khan has taken a different roster-building approach in some respects than predecessor Kevin Colbert. 2025 in particular has seen the Steelers make notable win-now moves like the Aaron Rodgers signing and the trade acquisition of Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith. Pittsburgh’s chances of making a postseason run would be greatly hindered by trading Watt, and the team’s 1-10 record in games without him certainly helps the four-time All-Pro’s leverage in negotiations.
Steelers players are set to report to training camp on July 23, which marks a somewhat notable checkpoint in this process. A holdout would come as a surprise given the fact it would lead to mandatory fines, although some view Watt as the likeliest player engaged in extension talks to take that route. During negotiations on his second Steelers pact, the three-time sack leader opted to hold in and it would come as no surprise if he did the same this time around.
Garrett’s four-year, $160MM Browns extension (which contains just under $124MM in total guarantees and roughly $89MM locked in at signing) still represents the bar for edge rushers at this point, but Micah Parsons is among the players who could sign a larger deal before Week 1. Watt is in a similar situation despite the age gap between he and Parsons, leaving plenty to be determined over the coming weeks. It will be interesting to see if the Steelers find a middle ground between their valuation and his asking price in time for the start of the season.