Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt is one of the best defenders in recent NFL history, and it’s no surprise that Pro Football & Sports Network considers him to be the premier free agent set to hit the market next offseason.
One of the most durable and consistent stars in the NFL, Watt has started all 17 games in each of the last two seasons after a torn pectoral cut short his 2022 campaign. He’s made seven straight Pro Bowls and earned first- or second-team All-Pro honors five times.
Watt has recorded at least 11.5 sacks in every fully healthy season. He’ll turn 31 in October, which complicates how long an extension could be, but the Steelers have long been expected to make him one of the league’s highest-paid non-quarterbacks.
If recent reports are to be believed, though, that expectation may be fading.
Pittsburgh Steelers Star T.J. Watt Interested in Myles Garrett-Type Contract Extension
Watt has been the subject of trade rumors over the past week following a cryptic post on social media that seemed to suggest he was ready to say goodbye to Steelers fans.
We now know, thanks to Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, that the issue stems from his contract situation. Following blockbuster extensions for Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby and especially Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Myles Garrett, the market for premier pass rushers has shifted this offseason.
Fittipaldo on Watt and the Steelers: “Since Garrett signed March 9th, hasn’t been a lot going on with T.J. Watt and the Steelers, Micah Parsons and the Cowboys. It’s big problems that those teams just had dumped into their laps.. This is just really complicated now.” #Steelers…
— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) April 14, 2025
Garrett, after briefly requesting a trade from the Browns, shocked the league by signing a four-year extension worth $160 million, averaging $40 million annually. That deal came shortly after Crosby signed a three-year contract with over $90 million guaranteed.
At 31 years old entering the 2025 season and carrying a $30 million cap hit, the Steelers are caught between not wanting to overcommit and knowing they can’t easily replace a player of Watt’s caliber. He’s coming off an 11.5-sack season and was once again a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year.
Waiting it out isn’t much of an option either. Dallas Cowboys star defender Micah Parsons is also due to hit free agency next spring, and it’s likely both he and Watt will closely monitor each other’s negotiations. If Parsons signs a record-setting deal, that could become the new bar the Steelers must meet to keep Watt.
It’s hard to picture the Steelers without Watt. He’s been the face of their defense since entering the league as the No. 30 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, and his resume speaks for itself — Defensive Player of the Year honors, multiple Pro Bowl selections, and a weekly presence offenses have to plan around.
But if the two sides can’t agree on an extension, and Pittsburgh wants to avoid a holdout or a ballooning cap hit for an aging star, then a trade can’t be ruled out. There would be no shortage of suitors, and the team could finally start a full rebuild after failing to win a playoff game since drafting Watt.
For now, the team remains in a holding pattern with its best player. For one of the league’s most stable franchises, this is a rare moment of real uncertainty — and there’s no clear endpoint in sight.