Whereas the Pittsburgh Steelers have achieved lots this offseason, they nonetheless have a number of urgent issues they should maintain. That features signing T.J. Watt to a contract extension. He’s coming into the final yr of his contract, and each Watt and the Steelers appear eager on getting a deal completed. The main points of that deal are the one holdup. Mike Florio thinks the 2 sides received’t determine one thing out anytime quickly.
“Scale of 1-10, confidence a deal will get completed earlier than coaching camp,” Florio mentioned Tuesday on his Professional Soccer Discuss podcast. “Bengals and Trey Hendrickson, Steelers and T.J. Watt, Cowboys and Micah Parsons. Simply give me a two for each. As a result of I don’t have an entire lot of confidence any of those are getting completed earlier than coaching camp.”
It wouldn’t be stunning to see these contract negotiations drag out for an additional few months. Watt is seemingly in search of a large contract, and the sting rusher market has gone up considerably this offseason. Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby each obtained big offers that reset the market.
Giving that form of cash to 1 participant will be daunting. The final time the Steelers signed Watt to a brand new deal, they made him the highest-paid participant at his place. He may very well be in search of one thing related once more. That deal didn’t get completed till proper earlier than the common season began, too. Historical past says that it may very well be a minute earlier than Watt will get an extension.
Throughout that very same podcast, Chris Simms expressed some optimism that the Steelers and Watt may get a deal completed before that.
“T.J. Watt’s the one I do take a look at to go, ‘The contract’s not within the worst spot. The workforce needed to know that is coming,’” Simms mentioned. “It’s the final yr, they gotta be considerably prepared for this.
“Do they wanna actually do that and discuss this with Aaron Rodgers in all probability coming in and, ‘Right here we go, we’re gonna attempt to make a run for this factor.’ I wouldn’t be shocked in the event that they obtained like every week into coaching camp they usually have been like, ‘Come on. T.J., let’s go, let’s get him to work. We all know we’re gonna pay him anyhow. Let’s get it completed, it’s simple.’”
The Steelers have all the time seemingly deliberate on extending Watt. He’s been the last word professional all through his NFL profession. Moreover an injury-plagued 2022 season, he’s persistently been among the best gamers within the league. He deserves to be paid as such.
Watt didn’t maintain out throughout his final contract negotiations in 2021, however he did maintain in. That didn’t have an effect on his efficiency that season, although. He ended up tying the single-season sack document and profitable the NFL Defensive Participant of the 12 months award. Maybe one other huge payday will spur Watt to have a equally impactful season.
The Steelers may nonetheless drag negotiations out, although. Watt is ready to show 31 in October, and whereas he was nonetheless dominant final yr, he appeared to take a slight step again. Because of this, Pittsburgh may be just a little hesitant about giving him a large cope with loads of assured cash.
It feels just like the Steelers will finally give Watt an extension. The one query is when that may occur. Whether or not that’s earlier than, throughout, or after coaching camp, Watt will likely be prepared to offer it his all this season.
