The Pittsburgh Steelers and superstar edge rusher T.J. Watt remain locked in a high-stakes contract impasse, but an NFL insider believes resolution may be close in time for training camp.
Watt, one of the premier defensive talents in the NFL, is entering the final year of his four-year, $112 million extension—paying him approximately $28 million annually. However, with Myles Garrett’s recent deal with Cleveland setting a new market benchmark—reportedly four years, $160 million with $123.5 million guaranteed—Watt is now seeking an extension that mirrors those elite terms .
According to NFL insider James Palmer, speaking on the Bleacher Report YouTube channel, “I’m hearing there’s a chance Watt gets past [$40 M per season]… The numbers are almost identical in every aspect… He has the right to try to get that” . Since entering the league in 2017, Watt has amassed an astounding 108 regular-season sacks—the highest total during that span .
The Steelers have reportedly felt increasing pressure to settle. One model has been Garrett’s Browns deal: Cleveland initially resisted before ultimately capitulating, partly due to Garrett’s off-field request for a trade, which reset the negotiation dynamic .
Meanwhile, veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, now a Steelers teammate, has added his voice, anticipating Watt will be “signed” soon and pointing to his own hopes for a full-strength training camp . Rodgers emphasized Watt’s value, calling him a “Hall of Fame outside rush-backer” whose leadership is critical to the team.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has taken a firm stance, with Watt missing OTAs and likely to miss more offseason work until a deal is reached . This reinforces management’s desire to wrap up negotiations quickly to maintain offseason momentum.
If Pittsburgh fails to strike a new deal soon, other elite pass rushers like Micah Parsons or Trey Hendrickson could further inflate the market and complicate negotiations .
As the clock ticks toward training camp in late July, all eyes are on negotiations. With Watt’s on-field dominance and market comparables pointing upward, a blockbuster extension seems increasingly likely—assuming both sides can find common ground.