Although T.J. Watt continues to be and not using a contract extension, NFL insider Dan Graziano expects that to alter earlier than the Pittsburgh Steelers tackle the New York Jets Sept. 7. Weighing in on Watt’s outlook, Graziano expects a deal to get carried out eventually.
“Steelers get these offers carried out typically later within the offseason,” he stated Friday on ESPN’s Get Up. “So I might think about T.J. Watt will get a contract extension at a while between now and the beginning of September.”
As Graziano stated, Pittsburgh normally doesn’t get offers carried out early. As an alternative, most of its contract talks warmth up in June with many agreements reached after the staff breaks coaching camp. Final yr, TE Pat Freiermuth and DL Cam Heyward acquired their extensions in September. Freiermuth on the sixth, Heyward on the third.
Watt’s 2021 mega-extension took loads of time to finish and wasn’t official till Sept. 9 of that yr. An identical scenario may play out this time round. Whereas Pittsburgh received’t must navigate the contract particulars that presumably held up the final deal, particularly the assured cash previous Yr 1, the recent go rusher market of 2024 has pushed up Watt’s price ticket.
Danielle Hunter, Maxx Crosby, and Myles Garrett all acquired new contracts this yr with Garrett’s $40 million common yearly worth deal resetting the market. Watt isn’t the one one left, both. Aidan Hutchinson, Trey Hendrickson, and Micah Parsons are additionally angling for contracts of their very own. The Lions are typically proactive in getting offers carried out as quickly as doable and Parsons may high Garrett’s quantity to grow to be the highest-paid go rusher in soccer. All of which might give Watt extra ammunition to ask for an enormous deal.
A take care of Watt is sort of actually going to get carried out. Even teammates like Alex Highsmith have expressed optimism. It’s a matter of how messy the scenario will get, and the deeper into the summer season it drags, the extra of a narrative it’ll grow to be.
