The Steelers are going to be extending T.J. Watt very soon, but could there be something else in the works with all of the cap space they have created?
If you are worried about whether or not the Steelers are going to get a deal done with star pass rusher T.J. Watt, don’t be. In addition to feeling out where both sides are in terms of guaranteed money, it was just a matter of clearing up cap space before Pittsburgh could make this happen. An extension is imminent.
But now I’m starting to get really curious. After dishing out a handful of voidable-year deals, the Steelers recently restricted the contract of Stephon Tuitt to free up additional cap space for the 2021 season. This move was most recently followed by the decision to restructure the contract newly acquired linebacker, Joe Schobert – reducing his $7.3 million cap hit down to just $1.74 million in 2021, according to Gerry Dulac of Pittsburgh Post Gazette:
With this move, the Pittsburgh Steelers have more than enough money to get T.J. Watt locked up for the foreseeable future. So what else could they have planned?
What are Steelers doing with their money this year?
Regardless of whether or not Watt becomes the highest-paid edge defender in the NFL (which is a real possibility), the Steelers aren’t going to take the brunt of that money upfront. Rather, they will look to lower his cap hit this season and spread the majority of his cap number into the following years of his deal.
Theoretically, if Pittsburgh wanted a really low 2021 cap hit for Watt and use the rest of the money elsewhere, they could make that happen. Prior to Schobert’s restructure going on the books, the Steelers already had roughly $17.7 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap. While they will need to save a few million for in-season spending in the event of an injury, this could still give them plenty to work with, depending on Watt’s new cap number in 2021.
We are all well aware that the Steelers are at the tail end of a rapidly closing Super Bowl window (hence the effort to get all of these voidable-year deals structured this offseason). Though Pittsburgh is going to feel the effects of this in the future, the decision to free up additional money means that another move could be coming in addition to Watt’s extension.
Some would like to see Pittsburgh go out and trade for a starting-caliber cornerback while others want them to sign an offensive tackle. Personally, I certainly wouldn’t guarantee that either of these happens, but it’s worth monitoring their cap situation.
It shouldn’t be long before T.J. Watt has his new lucrative extension worked out. Once the numbers are revealed, we will have a much better understanding of whether or not all of these restructures have simply been leading up to extending Watt, or if there is another move that is about to take place.