The Steelers’ talent, investment, and veteran experience allow the team to remain competitive, avoiding a total rebuild. Here are three reasons the Steelers remain in win-now mode.
In the late summer of 2021, the Steelers signed TJ Watt to a 4-year contract worth up to $112 million. Pittsburgh, uncharacteristically, guaranteed Watt $80 million of that contract. The Steelers locked up one of the most talented defensive players in the NFL.
This doesn’t come as a surprise, Watt is a player they can build a championship defense around. The Steelers will be lucky to have Watt during the prime of his career, this is why they remain in a win-now mode. The Steelers, typically, haven’t guaranteed large amounts of money when signing a player to a contract.
Pittsburgh broke the mold because locking Watt up during the prime of his career will give them a better shot at winning a Super Bowl. Watts’ ability to quickly get to the quarterback is a talent a lot of defenses are lacking. He draws a ton of attention from offenses, which opens up a window for another member of the strong Pittsburgh defense to make a play.
The Steelers need players like TJ Watt to help them win championships. After signing him to that historic contract, Pittsburgh can continue to add weapons around him. The Pittsburgh defense is getting stronger and a strong defense is a pivotal piece to a championship team. The Steelers don’t spend tons of money on free agents, which is why the expectations are higher for a team with that kind of talent on defense.