With T.J. Watt having just one year remaining on his contract, it was clear contract talks between him and the Pittsburgh Steelers were going to be a big storyline this offseason. However, when the veteran defender decided not to show up to mandatory minicamp, things officially got real. Not showing up at all is usually a sign that things aren’t going well in talks between a player and a franchise.
Now, there are a ton of questions to be answered. How much money is the star defender asking for, and how much is Pittsburgh willing to pay? Will Watt hold out of training camp if he still doesn’t have a new deal by then? Is it possible that Watt could be playing for another team when fall rolls around? Those are all fair questions, and questions that lead to a lot of worry for Steelers fans.
However, NFL insider Albert Breer is encouraging Pittsburgh’s fans not to be concerned about Watt’s future with the team. In a recent mailbag, Breer was asked if it’s more likely Watt is extended or traded. The insider made it clear that regardless of the drama coming out of Pittsburgh, it’s extremely unlikely Watt will ever play for another team.
"I have a hard time seeing how the Steelers don’t find some common ground with T.J. Watt on a new contract that’ll at least set him up to retire in Pittsburgh. He has $21.05 million left in the final year of the blockbuster deal he signed four years ago. That allows the team to fold a lower number into a contract with a well-deserved market correction. Watt is 30, and he has had his injury problems. However, he played in all 17 games the past two seasons with 30.5 sacks."Albert Breer
Albert Breer expects T.J. Watt and the Pittsburgh Steelers to find common ground
This outcome certainly makes the most sense, and seems to be the most likely. The Steelers certainly don’t want to lose Watt, and he definitely doesn’t want to leave. However, both sides have to play hardball until they can agree on deal that both parties are happy with. As for what that deal could look like, Breer explained that he doesn’t think Watt is going to reset the market, surpassing Myles Garrett’s $40 million a year, but he does expect him to have an annual salary in the mid-30s.
Whatever it takes, the Steelers need to figure it out fast, because this doesn’t need to linger into training camp. Now that Pittsburgh finally has its quarterback, the team needs to get everything else in line, quickly, so the franchise can get the most out of the 2025 season.