This offseason has been a wild experience in some ways for the Pittsburgh Steelers. One of many latest curler coasters they’ve taken a seat on revolves round T.J. Watt. The star edge rusher, and the lifeline of the roster over the previous couple of years, is heading into the ultimate 12 months of his deal, one which severely underpays him, in comparison with different edge rushers of his caliber. Talking on The Wealthy Eisen Present on Monday, former NFL defensive lineman Chris Lengthy thinks it could be a disgrace if Watt doesn’t finish his profession in Pittsburgh.
“T.J. Watt is meant to retire a Steeler,” Lengthy mentioned. “He’s simply a kind of iconic gamers to me… That’s how he’s supposed to return in, and that’s how he’s purported to exit. And it could be an actual disgrace if he wasn’t capable of exit a Steeler, as a result of he didn’t receives a commission what he was deserved to receives a commission… He’s not an ego man, however ultimately you have a look at it like, ‘come on’.”
For what it’s price, it nonetheless stays possible that Watt finally ends up signing one other long-term cope with Pittsburgh. That’s what all the reporting suggests to this point. And all issues thought of, it truly is a deal that Pittsburgh wants to determine. There’s some promise on offense, however too many inquiries to really feel particularly assured concerning the unit.
If the Steelers are going to have a profitable 12 months, it’s possible going to be because of their protection. And any robust defensive play we’ve seen from Pittsburgh lately begins with Watt.
Pittsburgh doesn’t win when Watt isn’t on the sector. That’s why the wait in these negotiations appears so complicated. Throughout that wait, the value for Watt’s eventual extension has solely gone up. Different prime move rushers, together with Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby, and Danielle Hunter, have all signed giant offers throughout that point. Garrett tops the market by a large margin at a median of $40 million per 12 months. That’s a quantity that ought to come up typically throughout these talks, though there’s an honest probability Watt’s contract doesn’t quantity to the identical.
Whereas the Steelers are ready, they’ve gotten another offers discovered within the meantime. Aaron Rodgers was signed to his one-year deal lately, and Pittsburgh additionally gave DeShon Elliot an extension this week. It’s doable that the staff wished to get these smaller offers out of the best way earlier than committing a ton of cash to Watt.
Both method, Pittsburgh’s between a rock and a tough place in the intervening time. There’s loads of time left to determine a deal. The longer the wait goes, the extra intense the scenario will get, although.
