Steelers sign LB T.J. Watt to new 5-year contract due to …

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed linebacker T.J. Watt to a five-year contract, the team announced on Friday. On Thursday, multiple reports surfaced saying the two sides agree to a four-year, $112 million contract extension with $80 million guaranteed, making him the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player. Watt’s reported annual salary ($28 million) eclipses the five-year, $135 million deal ($27 million annually) the Los Angeles Chargers signed Joey Bosa to last offseason.

During training camp, Watt, 26, who had a rookie contract with a $5 million option remaining, had been a “hold in,” reporting but not practicing. “Optimistic” that the parties would reach a long-term agreement before the season began, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stated on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Watt participated fully in practice for the first time.

Of course, I would really like to stay here (long term). However, I don’t really get to make any of those decisions,” Watt remarked on the first day of camp. “Well, I’m just trying to get better every day right now here.”

In 2020, Watt led the NFL in tackles for loss (23) and sacks (15), and he was named to the first team of the All-Pro team in each of the previous two seasons. In 47 games during the previous three seasons, he had 42.5 sacks. In his four-year career, he has also caused 17 fumbles, including a league-high eight in 2019.

Watt was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft (with pick No. 30). He is the younger brother of fullback Derek Watt, a Pittsburgh teammate, and defensive end J.J. Watt of the Arizona Cardinals.

The deal is pretty much what you expected Watt to get other than the $80 million guaranteed at signing. The Steelers haven’t even come close to guaranteeing that kind of money to any player in the past including Ben Roethlisberger and that has been the sticking point over the extension for a while.

The Steelers have ripped up the final year of rookie contracts before but decided against that with Watt likely because of the hefty signing bonus. Other than that, a deal that put him around $28 million per year with a sizeable of that guaranteed was expected to be what it took to get the deal done.

Without a doubt, Watt will play. What’s not clear is how much or how effective he will be. Although timing and the sensation of actually making contact with an offensive lineman may take some getting used to, conditioning won’t be a problem.

Given that Melvin Ingram is now a member of the team, the Steelers will probably restrict his playing time in some manner. The outcome might be in any direction. In 2018, Aaron Donald sat out the entire preseason and had a rough opening game. Watt might generate more than a player who will only have perhaps 30 practice plays over the offseason before playing a real game if he is able to secure some advantageous matchups in the pass-rushing game.