As the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for training camp, an unresolved issue continues to hang over the franchise. With T.J. Watt entering the final year of his contract, questions surrounding his future are growing louder. One notable voice, Aaron Rodgers’ former teammate, believes the Steelers are playing a dangerous game by delaying a resolution.
Why Is James Jones Calling Out the Steelers Over T.J. Watt?
Former NFL wide receiver James Jones didn’t mince words during his Monday appearance on FS1’s “The Facility.” He blasted the Steelers for what he sees as outright disrespect toward their franchise cornerstone.
.@89JonesNTAF says the Steelers are disrespecting T.J. Watt by diving into his trade value:
“You’re not going anywhere if 90 is not there.” pic.twitter.com/Ay49VP0H6w
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) July 14, 2025
“It is disrespectful, man,” Jones said. “We give coach [Mike] Tomlin a lot of credit for getting to the playoffs every year, right? Or not having a losing season. We give him a lot of credit for that. If you don’t have this boy [Watt], you gonna have a lot of losing seasons.”
Jones’ frustration mirrors what many fans and analysts are feeling. The Steelers have stayed busy this offseason, making major trades and even waiting for a possible move involving quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But while all that activity was happening, negotiations with Watt had stalled.
The delay is already costing Pittsburgh. As other edge rushers secure lucrative deals, Watt’s price tag keeps climbing. Both Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby received extensions this offseason, and Jones made his feelings clear about where Watt ranks among that group.
“You see Myles Garrett and you see Maxx Crosby get extensions. And you could argue that [Watt] colder than them dudes,” Jones said.
What Does This Contract Standoff Mean for Pittsburgh’s Future?
Each new deal in the NFL resets the market, and now the Steelers may be looking at a contract worth more than $40 million annually if they want to keep Watt. The timing couldn’t be worse for Pittsburgh’s front office.
Even with a statistical drop from 19 sacks in 2023 to 11.5 in 2024, Watt remains the foundation of Pittsburgh’s defensive identity. The team’s success in recent years has relied heavily on its defense, especially with quarterback play often struggling.
That’s exactly why Jones delivered his harshest warning yet: “If 90 [Watt] ain’t there, scratch it off. You’re not going nowhere, if 90’s not there. Could you imagine, the quarterbacks they’ve had, and no T.J. Watt? Come on man, they would be the Browns.”
The comparison to Cleveland stings because it highlights just how crucial Watt is to the Steelers’ competitiveness. Letting this contract standoff drag on deep into the preseason, like it did during their last negotiation, puts the entire season at risk.
Watt may be 30Â now, but his value to this team hasn’t dropped enough to justify the delay. With training camp looming, Pittsburgh’s front office is running out of time to make the right decision. If they don’t act soon, they risk alienating their most important player and, as Jones warned, jeopardizing their season before it even starts.
