Despite the signing of four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers being done and dusted, the Pittsburgh Steelers still have a major decision to make in star pass rusher T.J. Watt’s contract extension.
Watt has been one of the league’s most dominant defenders since the team picked him in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He is entering the final year of his four-year, $112 million deal, and negotiations for a new contract are heating up after the pass rusher didn’t attend the mandatory minicamp.
Adam Schefter Predicts T.J. Watt and Steelers Will Agree To a Strong Deal
Watt has been the cornerstone of Pittsburgh’s defense since entering the league in 2017. His stats prove why he deserves a massive payday. In 121 career games played, he has recorded 462 total tackles, 108 sacks, 33 forced fumbles, and seven interceptions.
Last season, Watt continued his dominance with 61 total tackles, 11.5 sacks, and six forced fumbles. His ability to disrupt opposing offenses is unmatched, and with Rodgers now in Pittsburgh, the Steelers need Watt more than ever to anchor their defense.
As a result, ESPN’s Adam Schefter is certain that the two sides will eventually figure something out. While he doesn’t think Watt will be able to reset the market again like he did in 2021, he still feels the 30-year-old will get something in the range of Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett contracts.
“Not more than Myless Garret, but I think TJ Watt is going to get a nice, strong, healthy deal,” Schefter said on the Pat McAfee show. “And I think at some point in time, the two sides will be able to figure out a way to get this done. I can’t imagine that TJ Watt wouldn’t be there for the start of training camp, that Pittsburgh would not get a deal one. … I think these two sides will be able to figure it out.”
“TJ Watt is gonna get a strong deal from the Pittsburgh Steelers..
Both sides are working to make it happen and TJ wants to make sure that he gets rewarded in an appropriate way” ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/bRtjYZTIg6
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 18, 2025
Crosby signed a three-year, $106.5 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders, while Garrett inked a massive four-year extension worth $160 million with the Cleveland Browns, making him the highest-paid defender in the league. Per Schefter’s prediction, Watt could be getting somewhere between $35 million and $40 million per year then.
While both sides are motivated to reach an agreement, negotiations could take time. The Steelers have historically been cautious with big contracts, but Watt’s importance to the team makes this situation different.
If Pittsburgh wants to maximize its Super Bowl window with Rodgers, locking up Watt should be its top priority. He won Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and was in the mix in other years. He’s a seven-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro, tied with Michael Strahan for the most sacks in a single season (22.5).
a true Pittsburgh Steelers fan, since the 70’s Steelers Omar Khan just pay T.J. Watt