T.J. Watt, the star linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is in the middle of making his own contract right now. Unsurprisingly, that has led him to skip the team’s mandatory minicamp. Besides helping Watt’s defense of the historic decision, this ruling is significant for other reasons. He’s heading into the last year of that four-year, $112 million contract he originally signed back in 2021. The holdout from minicamp would lead up to fines almost approaching $105,000 if Watt skips all three days.
Watt’s ongoing contract features a stately average annual value of $28 million. This puts him in line to be one of the top earners in the league. Major contract news in the NFL over the summer changed the game. His fellow pass rusher Myles Garrett recently made headlines by resetting the market himself. His new deal averages a staggering $40 million per year, $123.5 million of which is guaranteed. Clearly, this context has made Watt a combustible mixture with motivation for a new deal that better represents the impact he’s had on the team.
Currently, Watt has 108 total career sacks which has him sixth all time by an NFL player still active. Most impressively, he is in fact 5.5 sacks ahead of Myles Garrett, highlighting just how productive and valuable he is to his team. His 31st birthday will be coming up here soon in October. This limited window of opportunity leads the average linebacker to prioritize the pursuit of his financial well-being.
Watt held out of voluntary organized team activities (OTAs) earlier this offseason in order to devote all his energy to hammering out a new deal. He is understandably focused on doing what he can to win a good contract. In reality, he aired his grievances about the negotiation process during an Instagram story that he posted last April.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, who is no stranger to the situation, addressed the matter at a press conference last week.
“Certainly we’d like him to be here, but certainly not surprised by where we are,” – Mike Tomlin
Tomlin further highlighted the fact that both Watt and the organization wanted to get the deal done as much as the other.
“We’ve expressed the desire to get the business done, he has as well, and so we’ll continue to work. We’ve been here before,” – Mike Tomlin
Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin gave a nice peak into Watt’s learning process, showing what he looks for in his conversations with Watt this summer.
“He’s handling his business, he’s doing his thing and we’ve touched base a few times this summer, but it’s not about the football stuff. I’m just seeing how he’s doing, how his family’s doing, new baby, all that good stuff. So when T.J. shows up, he’ll be ready to go,” – Teryl Austin
Though negotiations are still underway, both sides remain hopeful. The fans want to make sure Watt’s future is in a Steelers uniform for decades to come. General manager Omar Khan was optimistic about Watt’s long-term future with the team.
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