If you happen to’re holding your breath ready for T.J. Watt to signal an extension with the Steelers, you may need to exhale. You can be ready for some time for the 2 sides to work that deal out, which is sort of an inevitability. There could also be some on the market who assume they could commerce him, however that’s not taking place.
Nonetheless, there seems to be no rush to convey this newest chapter to a conclusion. Watt posted an image on social media that briefly made everybody loopy worrying about an extension, but it surely seems the world stays the identical. As Bob Labriola writing for the workforce’s web site cautioned, it’s going to be some time.
“Persistence”, Labriola suggested to 1 Steelers fan involved concerning the lack of updates on T.J. Watt’s extension. “Signing a famous person corresponding to T.J. Watt to a contract extension is just not a easy matter, and so it’s going to take time. These sorts of issues normally happen throughout the summer time, and we’re not even to Memorial Day but”.
The Steelers signed Watt to a record-breaking extension again in 2021, which practically got here right down to the proverbial wire. On the time, that extension made him the highest-paid defender within the NFL. Since then, the Browns exploded the market with Myles Garrett’s deal.
Whereas that $40 million per 12 months contract shall be a hurdle, it’s not as huge because the one they cleared within the final deal. On the time, the Steelers retained a hard-and-fast coverage of not offering ensures after the primary season of any contract with a non-quarterback. For T.J. Watt, they gave him the primary three years assured on his first extension. Since then, solely Minkah Fitzpatrick has earned a second-year assure.
Nonetheless, maybe it’s value reminding that Watt arguably left some cash on the desk on his final extension so as to get these ensures. Are the Steelers keen to pay him $40.1 million per season whereas guaranteeing three years? As Watt ages and arguably exits his peak, how excessive are they keen to go along with ensures?
T.J. Watt had a horrible season in 2024, in the event you ask a Yinzer in a nasty temper. Regardless of the “down” 12 months, he nonetheless managed 11.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, and a league-leading six compelled fumbles. He completed as a second-team All-Professional, inserting fourth in Defensive Participant of the Yr voting. Nonetheless not unhealthy, I suppose.
By the best way, 11.5 sacks are nonetheless tied for the 14th-most sacks in a season in Steelers historical past by anybody not named T.J. Watt. It’s not his fault that he recorded greater than that 5 occasions. The one different participant in Steelers historical past to file eleven-plus sacks three or extra occasions is Jason Gildon. James Harrison did it as soon as. Let that sink in.
Anyway, the Steelers are going to signal T.J. Watt to an enormous new contract within the coming months, and everybody goes to complain about how he’s not value it and that they ought to have traded him for 2 first-round picks no workforce would have been keen to surrender for him within the first place. So a minimum of we’ve got that to look ahead to, maybe someday in August.
