NFL Contract Situation in Pittsburgh Resolved

There’s finally a resolution to the contract situation in Pittsburgh. Reports indicate that star pass rusher TJ Watt has signed a three-year contract extension. The deal, as reported by the NFL Network, is valued at $123 million.

This extension positions Watt as the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history based on his average annual salary.

Earlier this year, Miles Garrett had signed a lucrative contract extension with the Cleveland Browns, earning $40 million per year, which was, at that point, the highest for a non-quarterback.

Last month, Watt decided to skip the mandatory minicamp, which seemed to send a subtle message about his wish for a new contract before the upcoming 2025 season. This was a marked change from his approach in 2021 when he participated in both minicamps and training camps before finalizing a contract just before the regular season began.

Watt, who was named the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021, was entering the last year of a four-year extension he had signed back in September 2021.

Training camp for some Steelers players is set to begin on July 23rd. Throughout his career, Watt has consistently excelled; in 2021, he tied a single-season sack record and recorded his sixth season with double-digit sacks. At 30 years old, he is also a seven-time Pro Bowler.