Multiple reports surfaced earlier this week suggesting that the Pittsburgh Steelers and unsettled pass-rusher T.J. Watt could come to terms on a contract extension before veteran Pittsburgh players are due to report to training camp on July 23.
For a mailbag published on Thursday, Steelers insider Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette poured some cold water over those optimistic updates.
While answering a question from a reader, Dulac said that the Steelers and Watt won’t come to an agreement “before training camp” gets underway.
“They want to extend T.J. and likely will, but I’m telling you, it’s going to be a tough process. They have to be careful about making smart business decisions,” Dulac explained.
Specifically, Dulac said that the Steelers are “pondering” how to react to Watt’s contract demands that seemingly are related to the four-year, $160M extension that included $123.5M guaranteed that Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns signed in March. Dulac thinks Watt now may want to be the highest-paid individual at “more than just his position.” Thus, this situation could get more complicated if Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons resets the market at any point this summer.
In 2021, Watt “held in” during training camp and participated only in individual drills until he and the Steelers agreed to an extension shortly before the start of that season. For what it’s worth, Pittsburgh opens the upcoming campaign with a matchup at the New York Jets on Sept. 7.
Watt is in the last year
of his contract.
The Steelers could’ve saved themselves some trouble (and probably some cash) had they worked out a multi-year extension with Watt before Garrett went public with his trade request this past winter. Garrett was always going to receive a pay raise from either Cleveland or a different club, and it seems to be a lock that Parsons will better Garrett’s deal.
Watt knows the Steelers signed 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers earlier in June to do more than simply compete for a postseason berth. That said, it remains to be seen if Watt would be willing to forfeit money by skipping a game or two if he doesn’t receive his desired extension before the first Sunday of September arrives.
