If it wasn\u2019t for the Aaron Rodgers \u201cwill he, won\u2019t he, when will he\u201d non-stop circus this offseason, there would be a lot more talk about whether the Pittsburgh Steelers and OLB T.J. Watt are going to come to terms on a contract extension. Watt has been a sensational pass rusher and defensive playmaker since the Steelers made him a first-round pick in 2017.<\/p>\n
But Watt\u2019s current contract comes to an end after 2025. You\u2019d think that would be plastered all over the discussions around the Steelers. But the national media just wants to talk about a certain quarterback all day, every day.<\/p>\n
But CBSSports.com\u2019s Tyler Sullivan thinks that the Steelers should absolutely re-sign Watt. When looking at each NFL team\u2019s top candidate for an extension<\/a>, Sullivan tabbed Watt.<\/p>\n \u201cBack in 2021, Watt and the Steelers agreed to a $112 million extension that made him the NFL\u2019s highest-paid defensive player at the time,\u201d Sullivan write. \u201cNow, the star pass rusher is entering the final year of that deal and could again look to reset the market. If he were to land such a deal, it\u2019d have to exceed Myles Garrett\u2019s $40 million AAV. Watt\u2019s current AAV sits at roughly $28 million, so this would be quite the raise for the 30-year-old. That said, he deserves it. Since signing that deal, Watt has won the NFL\u2019s Defensive Player of the Year award, added three more All-Pro [honors] to his r\u00e9sum\u00e9 and is coming off a 2024 season where he posted 11.5 sacks and a league-leading six forced fumbles.\u201d<\/p>\n T.J. Watt has cemented himself as one of the best defensive players to ever suit up in Pittsburgh. In 121 career regular-season games, he has 108 sacks. He also has 462 tackles, 126 tackles for a loss, 225 quarterback hits, 33 forced fumbles, 12 fumble recoveries, seven interceptions, and 49 passes defended. Watt can disrupt games by rushing the passer or by dropping back in coverage. He\u2019s one of the most versatile pass rushers in the NFL.<\/p>\n There are two primary issues surrounding an extension. One, it\u2019s going to cost a lot, as Sullivan wrote. Two, Watt turns 31 in October. And the Steelers are still struggling to return to contender status. How much longer does Watt want to play for a team that isn\u2019t a true Super Bowl contender?<\/p>\n There have been plenty of people who think Watt could be a bargaining chip to help the Steelers rebuild. And former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum is one of those who thinks the Steelers should trade Watt, especially if they can\u2019t get a star quarterback<\/a>.<\/p>\n