As the Pittsburgh Steelers inch closer to negotiating a blockbuster extension for their Hall of Fame–caliber edge rusher, one high-profile NFL analyst is pushing back on the notion that simply locking up T.J. Watt will repair Pittsburgh’s deeper roster issues.
FS1 personality Colin Cowherd argued on The Herd that while Watt is “a hell of a player,” his individual excellence hasn’t translated into postseason success—calling into question whether a new deal will move the Steelers forward.
Cowherd reminded viewers that Watt’s gaudy regular-season stats must be weighed against the team’s playoff track record since his arrival. “This is not a criticism of T.J. Watt, but in four playoff games, he’s got one sack, no forced fumbles, six tackles,” Cowherd said. “A lot of T.J. Watt’s numbers have been against that bad Bengals’ O-line or bad Cleveland O-line. He’s their best player, but 0-4 in the playoffs, one sack”.
Star Power vs. Structural Weaknesses
Cowherd made clear that paying Watt top dollar won’t mask Pittsburgh’s holes up front or in the secondary. He pointed out that Watt’s contract year coincides with an offensive line that continues to allow pressure at one of the highest rates in the league—and a defense that, beyond Watt, lacks playmakers.
“He’s gonna take them to the cleaners.”@ColinCowherd says paying T.J. Watt top dollar won’t help the Steelers compete in today’s NFL. pic.twitter.com/KbFO1gnlDC
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) June 10, 2025
“He’s gonna get whatever he wants—he owns the Steelers,” Cowherd declared, predicting Watt will leverage his status to extract a record extension. “Everybody in Pittsburgh owns a T.J. Watt jersey… They don’t want any backlash. The Rooneys, they’re going to pay him. But paying Watt is the easy part. The hard part is fixing an O-line that can’t run block or protect.”
Front Office Caught Between Pay and Performance
Watt’s impending free agency places the Steelers’ front office in a bind: pay their best player or risk losing him, yet risking cap space that could shore up the trenches and secondary. Pittsburgh’s history of investing heavily in one or two stars has seldom produced Super Bowl runs without complementary pieces—something Cowherd emphasized.
Watt’s Legacy and What Comes Next
At age 30 and entering the final year of his current deal, Watt remains one of the most feared pass rushers in football. His 27 QB hits in 2024 set the tone for Pittsburgh’s defense, and his durability and production justify a lucrative extension.
But Cowherd argues that without addressing schematic rigidity and roster construction, even Watt’s generational talent can’t will the Steelers past the divisional round.
In the days ahead, Watt and the Steelers will need to bridge the gap between superstar compensation and team-building strategy. A new contract will keep Watt in black and gold—but fixing Pittsburgh’s perennial flaws will require far more than just ink on a check.
a true Pittsburgh Steelers fan, since the 70’s resigning T.J. Watt to anther contract will only help the Steelers defense but signing Aaron Rodgers will not help the Steelers get to the super bowl and that’s what all the sports media groups and Steelers haters with their rat poison said Russell Wilson was to get the Steelers to a super bowl win last season and look what happen