On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Steelers made the announcement fans had been waiting for: All-Pro edge rusher T.J. Watt is staying in black and gold. Watt and the team agreed to a three-year, $123 million extension, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.
It was a move that made complete sense—and sent Yinzers into an uproar of celebration.
Watt’s numbers speak for themselves. Since entering the league in 2017, he’s notched 108 sacks and 33 forced fumbles, both tops in the NFL over that span. He’s been the heartbeat of Mike Tomlin’s defense and the soul of this franchise’s identity.
Getting this deal done was absolutely necessary.
But what’s just as impressive as securing Watt is how General Manager Omar Khan pulled it off.
On Friday, details emerged about the structure of Watt's new contract—and that’s where Khan showed his brilliance. According to Jack Sperry from Chat Sports, the reworked deal lowers Watt’s 2025 cap hit from over $30 million to just $23,368,694.
That’s a difference of nearly $7 million, and in the NFL, that kind of savings can make or break your ability to add another impact player.
In my eyes, this is front office wizardry.
Omar Khan worked his magic again for the Pittsburgh Steelers with T.J. Watt's contract
Not only did the Steelers lock in their most important player through 2028, but they also gave themselves breathing room to make another splash. With glaring needs still at safety and potentially wide receiver, Pittsburgh now has some financial flexibility to go shopping.
Names like Justin Simmons, Terry McLaurin, Juaun Jennings, and Julian Blackmon are intriguing possibilities. Each could fill a need and elevate the roster in a meaningful way. While no one knows for sure what the next move will be, the fact that Khan created room for one?
That speaks volumes.
It’s no secret the Steelers are in win-now mode. The offseason was loaded with big swings—Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey—and now Watt’s deal ties it all together.
But the work might not be done.
With this new cap space, Pittsburgh has a golden opportunity to plug one more hole. And if Khan works even half the magic he just showed with Watt’s contract, I believe the Steelers will be even more dangerous in 2025.
Securing Watt was the priority. Now, building around him? That’s how championships are made.