How Much Will Steelers Have To Pay T.J. Watt?

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a T.J. Watt problem.

He’s still an excellent player, perhaps the second-best defensive player in his division. He isn’t being overpaid, and he’s represented the franchise well since the moment he was drafted. However, Watt rightfully wants to be paid, and as he enters his age-31 season, the Steelers are on the verge of paying him like an elite edge rusher or suffering the consequences.

Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett made those conversations more difficult with his four-year, $160 million extension that ended his hostage situation. Watt isn’t overly likely to pass that average annual value or total guaranteed money ($123.6 million). He’s instead in line to beat Maxx Crosby and Danielle Hunter at $35 million and $35.6 million, respectively.

At some point, that may toe the line between rewarding a superstar and losing the surplus value he provides. Pass rushers don’t age particularly well. He posted his lowest (healthy season) sack total since his rookie season (11.5). Per Pro Football Focus, his pass-rush win rate continued to descend to 13.3 percent, good for 29th among the 64 edge rushers with at least 322 reps.

Ray Fittipaldo suggested that the Steelers could spend their way out of the Watt debacle.

"Extend him," Fittipaldo wrote. "Give him $90 or $92 million full guarantees and structure the deal in such a way that it's easy to get out of in Year 4 or 5."

That guaranteed money would rank third among edge rushers, behind Garrett and Nick Bosa’s massive deals. As a third contract for Watt, that’s a reasonable number, and it would be malpractice to not have the contract be flexible enough to get out of in Year 4 – the earlier the better for the team.

For now, the Steelers have eight seasons of Watt wanting to remain in Pittsburgh, and one peace sign Instagram story that says it doesn’t have to be priority No. 1. If nothing else, he certainly said all the right things after the season.

"I want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler," said Watt. "I don't want to leave this place. I want to be part of the solution. I've put so much into it here. I want to help Cam Heyward get to where we need to get. I want to be a part of the solution.

"I don't want to leave this place. I love the people here. And that goes beyond just the coaches. It's the fan base. It's the people, the community. And we owe it to them to get it right. And I want to be part of the solution, not leave here and go somewhere else.

"That's not my intention at all."