Alongside Cam Heyward, no one has been the face of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ franchise lately greater than T.J. Watt. He has only one 12 months remaining on his contract and his annual wage is lagging considerably behind the highest of the marketplace for move rushers.
Extending him looks as if the plain path ahead with Watt 30 years outdated and nonetheless among the finest move rushers within the league, however not everyone shares that opinion. Patrick Rooney Jr., whereas not a member of the Steelers group in any official capability, is a member of the household that has owned the Steelers since their inception in 1933. You possibly can depend him amongst these not in favor of extending Watt.
“T.J is a superb participant, nice Steeler. Insane to pay him something proper now. Completely insane. He’s 31 years outdated,” Rooney mentioned by way of Palm Seashore Kennel Membership on X. “However once more, in case you’re going all-in this 12 months, then you definately’re gonna need to re-sign him. However once more, you’re making strikes proper now that you just’re making an attempt to do one thing for this 12 months. That, to me, primarily based on something you’ve seen within the final a number of years, simply doesn’t make sense.”
Watt remains to be 30 years outdated till October, however he’ll play the vast majority of this season at 31. Rooney’s level isn’t essentially about Watt’s impending decline this season, however reasonably a commentary on the Steelers’ general technique of making an attempt to maximise their present window after they have persistently fallen in need of playoff success for nearly a decade.
It’s a good criticism to an extent however ignores all the opposite work that has already been executed to maximise the present window. If the Steelers hadn’t traded for DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith, or in the event that they hadn’t signed Aaron Rodgers, then Rooney’s level would make extra sense. However they’ve already dedicated themselves to taking a step ahead towards competing in 2025. Failing to pay Watt and risking a holdout in 2025 would put their whole 2025 technique in danger.
From a wage cap and money perspective, it could be dangerous to not pay Watt. The Steelers have been on the sting of their required three-year money spend minimums by the NFL’s collective bargaining settlement and his projected contract would put them in a way more comfy scenario.
Even when a multi-year deal may even see Watt’s decline at 33 or 34 years outdated, it’s nicely price it for the subsequent few seasons of high-level play.
