The Steelers would be wise to get out in front of next big contracts
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a couple loose ends they need to tie up this offseason, and while the quarterback position has been at the forefront of discussion this offseason, it’s what is on the backburner which might need tending to soon.
What has been on the backburner? How about T.J. Watt’s contract situation.
For those who don’t know, the Steelers pass rusher is entering the final year of his current, and is looking for a deal which will pay him what he feels he is worth. And even after the age of 30, Watt remains one of the best defenders in the NFL on a yearly basis. He will want paid like those who have already been given a healthy bump in pay, mainly Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett.
While the Steelers typically wait until training camp, at the earliest, to work on potential extensions and new contracts, they might want to get out ahead of some other potential contracts which could be happening sooner.
Tuesday Cincinnati Bengals All-Pro defensive end, and 2024 sack leader, Trey Hendrickson went in front of the media threatening to sit out games this season if he doesn’t get a new contract.
Check out what he said, this being just a portion of his 20+ minute media session Tuesday:
Bengals All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson: “There’s unprovoked shark attacks and there’s provoked shark attacks.”
📹 @marshallkramsky pic.twitter.com/LfiFPGNsXQ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 13, 2025
It isn’t just Hendrickson who wants a new deal, so does Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl pass rusher Micah Parsons. Will either of these contracts be near the Crosby/Garrett level? On paper you’d suggest they won’t, but if we’ve learned anything about contracts across the NFL it is always the next contract which trumps the prior.
It is at this time when the Steelers should be more proactive, and try to get Watt’s deal done before the price of negotiating goes up once again.
There is no question about where Watt stands among these players from an on-field perspective, and it is time the Steelers show him his genuine value by getting him a contract which puts him in the upper echelon contractually. For those who wonder if the Steelers should deal Watt for draft capital, I feel as if that ship has sailed…if it ever even had sails to begin with.
Nonetheless, the Steelers waiting game is only going to raise the overall price tag for Watt, so if the organization is smart they will get to the negotiating table to try and get ahead of these other deals which seem inevitable to happen before the start of the 2025 regular season.
Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the rest of OTAs, Mandatory Minicamp and training camp.
The Steelers likely are negotiating with Watt already. Pgh isn’t so publicly acrimonius as other AFC North teams during the process. Last Watt contract dragged on longer than some preferred, but it seemed friendly enough. Percentage of cap, years, guarantees… a lot to discuss.
Hard to think either Cincinnati or Dallas is going $40MM+ APY for an edge imminently. Garrett’s contract is already in. Good NFL players are getting so
expensive.
And trade Watt? No sails on that ship for multiple reasons, most importantly, it would be hard to get what would be felt to be appropriate value in return.
I’m fairly sure it was Watt’s agent that was dragging out the last negotiations, over petty details. Based on Watt eventually saying “(*&^ this”, walking upstairs, and signing.
Maybe so. Water under bridge.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Dallas pays big for Micah. And you never know what the Bengals will do but they don’t seem to value defense much
I wrote that it seems that Parsons and Hendrickson would likely not be receiving contracts imminently. Their teams have cap space (ca. $31MM for ‘Boys and $26MM for Bengals) but frugal owners. No one is moving too quickly today to enter the $34-40 MM APY EDGE club. Heck, Trey may even hold out, been a minute since Le’Veon.
a true Pittsburgh Steelers fan, since the 70’s I hope Steelers Omar Khan can give T.J. Watt another contract
I think it’ll happen, Watt is EDGE1, after all.
I truly think by the time the team is a contender again, Watt will be past his prime. I hope they don’t just give him a big contract based on past performance
Ouch, that hurts. Perhaps Garrett, Hunter, and Hendrickson are in similar career position as Watt. And I agree, future performance is what is to be bought. Negotiation is tough all around.
I think the Steelers could, at least, be more open to the when part of contract negotiations.
They’re not gonna have a big fat QB deal anytime soon, so if they want T.J. to retire a Steeler ok, but I’d be ok if they traded him too. I think the thing I don’t want to see is him play out this last year and walk – that’d be the worst option from my perspective.
I mostly agree, JoeB. And letting Watt walk in ’27 would be double-dutch dumb. Doggone offseason takes forever, anyway.
Get TJ’s deal done before Dallas or Cincy have a chance to overpay and drive the market up even higher.
Cincy, in particular, sounds like it’s dancing dangerously close already to ‘overpay or lose him’ territory, because Hendrickson, for all his restraint, sounds like he’s feeling disrespected and about at the end of his rope with the way the team is handling him (And it sounds like they’re doing a poor job of communicating directly).
Trey’s not loving it. C’est le vie. Okay by me. Having troubles signing rookies, too. NIL effect, or just Bengals being Bengals? ‘Boys and Bengals have cap space (see above), so does Pgh, ca. $34MM or so. 49ers/Browns have set a high bar already, horse way out of the barn. Negtiation is tough.
I think they should sign TJ to a new contract ASAP before Hendrickson becomes the next highest paid defender. At this point, the Steelers shouldn’t sign Rodgers and instead put that money into some contracts upfront for players like TJ, so we can use more of the cap space on other players after we draft a QB in a year or two. It also see to be a good idea to have the contract go out a couple extra years with the cost tapering out, so it costs less to cut him if he gets an injury and underperforms in ~5 years.
Yes, Pgh would be best served to avoid AARod, IMO. Pgh just culled an irritant, why add another?
I’m probably in the minority, no, I know I’m in the minority, but I’m not in support of giving TJ Watt a huge contract renewal. Last year he had the least amount of sacks in a non-injury season going back to his rookie year in 2017. He was not credited with a single defensive stat in the final two games (Baltimore Playoff game and Cincinnati) last year. He had five sacks in his last 10 games of 2024, zero in the last four.
Teams began preparing for Watt differently so until Watt’s coach and coordinators can figure a way to beat the schemes of other teams, Watt’s performance will not be commensurate with being at the very top of Edge defender pay scale. Now perhaps Watt was injured at the end of last year, I don’t know. But his performance dipped last year. He relies on his quickness and speed as well as his power. I would hate to see the Steelers overpay or extend him for too long.
If he plays lights out this year, then well, reward him with a new contract as the above concerns will have proven to be unwarranted.
Negotiation is tough for everyone involved.