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Brooke Pryor
PITTSBURGH — T.J. Watt and the Steelers have agreed to a three-year extension that can make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL historical past — once more.
Watt, who turns 31 in October, agreed to a three-year, $123 million extension with the Steelers on Thursday afternoon, sources instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter, ending a contentious, monthslong contract negotiation. The deal comes with $108 million totally assured at signing, and the $41 million common per 12 months tops the $40.25 common wage given to Cincinnati Bengals star extensive receiver Ja’Marr Chase and the $40 million awarded to Cleveland Browns standout edge rusher Myles Garrett earlier this offseason.
Watt, who leads the NFL with 73.5 sacks prior to now 5 seasons, did not report back to the Steelers’ necessary minicamp in June as the 2 sides labored by means of negotiations. However with the contract agreed to, Watt might be anticipated to report back to the Steelers’ coaching camp at St. Vincent School in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday.
Watt celebrated the deal by posting an image on Instagram of him flexing and yelling in a Steelers uniform, a a lot completely different message than the one he seemingly despatched earlier within the offseason with a narrative put up of him flashing a peace sign up uniform.
Although the negotiations had continued all through the offseason, the Steelers have been assured their 2017 first-round decide would stay with the group.
“I am hopeful T.J. will end his profession right here,” common supervisor Omar Khan mentioned at league conferences in March.
Watt’s teammates have been additionally vocal in urging the Steelers to safe the sting rusher. Not solely did Aaron Rodgers voice his assist for Watt in an look on “The Pat McAfee Present,” however defensive captain Cameron Heyward additionally despatched a robust message to Khan about his teammate in an interview with “The Wealthy Eisen Present” this week.
“I am going as much as Omar and I am telling him, ‘That is not taking place,'” Heyward mentioned, “if there’s even a commerce that will get up there. I do not suppose it helps our crew to commerce a man like that.”
In doing the deal now, the Steelers squash any lingering drama round one of many crew’s defensive cornerstones as they enter a important preseason after overhauling their roster with strikes that included signing Rodgers and buying and selling for All-Professional cornerback Jalen Ramsey and extensive receiver DK Metcalf. The final time the Steelers made Watt the highest-paid non-quarterback in 2021 — with a four-year, $112 million deal that averaged $28 million per 12 months — the 2 sides did not comply with a deal till days earlier than the regular-season opener. Watt reported to coaching camp that 12 months, however he largely labored out off to the aspect throughout crew intervals.
The 2021 NFL Defensive Participant of the 12 months, Watt led the league in sacks for 3 of his eight seasons, and he led in compelled fumbles twice, together with final season. Even so, Watt struggled down the stretch in 2024. He completed the 12 months with 11.5 sacks, however he had simply two sacks and 4 quarterback hits within the Steelers’ season-ending five-game shedding streak. Throughout these video games, he performed 260 of 261 snaps on the left aspect, in accordance with ESPN Analysis. Watt acknowledged his shortcomings in that stretch and mentioned he can be open to shifting round.
“I desire the left, however at this level in my profession, I wish to be an affect participant,” he mentioned in January. “I do not wish to be schemed out of video games. I need to have the ability to ship the soccer in good subject positions or take the soccer away, and it wasn’t a adequate 12 months for myself with regards to that.”
