3 moves the Steelers must consider before the season

Extend T.J. Watt

It is no secret that T.J. Watt is one of the top defensive players in the league. Like the rest of the league’s stars, Watt deserves to be paid like one. He has been holding out for much of the offseason, while still being present at the facility, and unlike many other big stars, is going about it fairly quietly.

Watt has proven he is not only one of the league’s premier defensive players, but also that he is an ultimate pro, who carries himself the right way both on and off the field. Watt’s talent and character make him a perfect franchise cornerstone at a premier position, and it is time that the Steelers lock him up long-term.

An extension for Watt will not come cheap, as he will likely become the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL, surpassing Joey Bosa’s 5-year, $135 million deal. While this is will be a hefty price to pay, it is in the best interests of both Watt and the Steelers, as it allows Watt to ensure he gets paid before the season, to prevent the risk of him getting hurt and losing out on money, and it helps the Steelers lock up their franchise cornerstone long term before he has another big year in a contract year, which would only drive his price up even more.

While this will eat up a good amount of the team’s remaining cap space this year, the team can structure the deal to ensure that they still have enough money to make another move, whether it be through a signing bonus or guaranteed money coming more next year. Either way, locking up Watt is a move the Steelers must make before the season, and if they can do so while keeping some cap space to fill one of the team’s two remaining needs, that would be ideal for the team.