Pittsburgh Steelers kept busy this offseason.
They acquired DK Metcalf in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks, alongside signing Jone Smith and Jalen Ramsey from the Miami Dolphins. The team also bolstered their secondary with Darius Slay and Juan Thornhill.
Oh, and they brought in Aaron Rodgers.
On Thursday, the Steelers finalized another notable move, agreeing to a three-year contract extension for TJ Watt. Watt, who had sought a long-term deal this offseason, secured a $123 million extension, with $108 million guaranteed.
So, was this the right choice for Pittsburgh?
NAH – James Data
Congratulations to TJ Watt for capitalizing on the Steelers’ misfortune and securing his financial future, but from a football perspective: absolutely not. Don’t get me wrong, Watt is an excellent defensive player, yet he doesn’t quite reach the level of the NFL’s elite, despite his hefty contract.
The financial figures surrounding Watt’s contract are striking but, quite frankly, seem excessive. He often benefits from coverage sacks, which, while important, don’t label him a game-changer. He’s an edge rusher who demands attention, much like Miles Garrett, but I wonder if he can consistently perform at that level.
Looking ahead, I really hope he can maintain his performance beyond the age of 30. Last season, he managed only 11.5 sacks and 27 QB hits in 17 games. Even if Watt elevates his game, there are troubling patterns that suggest some of the investment might not pay off.
There’s a sense that he pads statistics. Again, that’s not entirely his fault, but consider this: he got 6.5 sacks against one of the league’s worst pass-blocking teams, while only achieving 5.0 sacks against a team that ranked in the top 15 for pressure.
The Steelers seem to be going all in, paying a high price for both DK Metcalf and now TJ Watt. As it stands, they’re projected to have $30 million in cap space next season. This strategy feels flawed, and it could lead to organizational failure down the line.
Essentially, it seems like it’s Super Bowl or bust at this point, and when I consider the team’s talent, that feels like a real long shot to me.
Yes – Mark Scofield
I’ll provide the counterargument.
This is simply how business works in today’s NFL.
As James highlighted, the Steelers are all-in this offseason. Indeed, bringing in Rodgers has raised some eyebrows. Part of Watt’s contract stems from earlier decisions, as discussed by Dejan Kovacevic. Notably, Watt’s cap hit is a smaller percentage of the team’s total spending than his previous deal.
To break it down, the extension includes $123 million over three years, averaging $41 million per season, which represents 14.4% of the Steelers’ salary cap; that’s almost 1% less than his last extension in 2021.
Additionally, this deal carries a cultural significance.
Consider what Cam Heyward recently said. As a significant leader on the team, he expressed support for Watt, confirming, “It’s my brother… I want him paid what he deserves. He’s one of the best players in the league, respected by everyone.”
He also quashed any rumors about trading Watt.
Given the context, making this move was essential for Pittsburgh.
Nah* – Jared Mueller
As a contributor to SB Nation’s Cleveland Browns coverage, I may have a slight bias.
Despite that, it’s important to note: Watt is a strong player, and his extension was likely after signing Rodgers. However, there’s a notable gap between the perceptions of film analysts and those focused solely on statistics. As stated earlier, Watt’s numbers don’t continually reflect sheer dominance like some of his peers.
Even with his drive and ability to adapt to changing defenses as he ages, Watt may not impact the game at the level his contract suggests, even if the stats begin to stack up.
