A number of reviews surfaced earlier this week suggesting that the Pittsburgh Steelers and unsettled pass-rusher T.J. Watt might come to phrases on a contract extension earlier than veteran Pittsburgh gamers are as a result of report back to coaching camp on July 23.
For a mailbag revealed on Thursday, Steelers insider Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Publish-Gazette poured some chilly water over these optimistic updates.
Whereas answering a query from a reader, Dulac mentioned that the Steelers and Watt will not come to an settlement “earlier than coaching camp” will get underway.
“They need to lengthen T.J. and certain will, however I am telling you, it should be a tricky course of. They need to watch out about making good enterprise choices,” Dulac defined.
Particularly, Dulac mentioned that the Steelers are “pondering” learn how to react to Watt’s contract calls for that seemingly are associated to the four-year, $160M extension that included $123.5M assured that Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns signed in March. Dulac thinks Watt now could need to be the highest-paid particular person at “extra than simply his place.” Thus, this case might get extra sophisticated if Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons resets the market at any level this summer time.
In 2021, Watt “held in” throughout coaching camp and took part solely in particular person drills till he and the Steelers agreed to an extension shortly earlier than the beginning of that season. For what it is price, Pittsburgh opens the upcoming marketing campaign with a matchup on the New York Jets on Sept. 7.
Watt is within the final yr
of his contract.
The Steelers might’ve saved themselves some bother (and doubtless some money) had they labored out a multi-year extension with Watt earlier than Garrett went public along with his commerce request this previous winter. Garrett was all the time going to obtain a pay increase from both Cleveland or a distinct membership, and it appears to be a lock that Parsons will higher Garrett’s deal.
Watt is aware of the Steelers signed 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers earlier in June to do greater than merely compete for a postseason berth. That mentioned, it stays to be seen if Watt could be keen to forfeit cash by skipping a sport or two if he would not obtain his desired extension earlier than the primary Sunday of September arrives.
