A Tuesday report revealed that the Pittsburgh Steelers and unsettled pass-rusher T.J. Watt “are actually motivated to get one thing executed” relating to what appears to be an inevitable contract extension earlier than Pittsburgh gamers report back to coaching camp on July 23.
Throughout a Wednesday replace that aired on Bleacher Report’s YouTube channel, NFL insider James Palmer indicated that the Steelers and Watt disagree on how a lot assured cash the one-time NFL Defensive Participant of the Yr Award winner ought to obtain through his subsequent deal.
“The Steelers’ argument is that this: that Watt and the protection form of fell off slightly bit the again finish of final yr,” Palmer defined, as shared by Troy Montgomery of Steelers Depot. “He is had some accidents. He is battled by means of them. He will be 31 years outdated (in October). Do you give $100M assured to someone like that? I believe that is the place this battle’s going to occur, however I believe a deal goes to finish up occurring.”
Injury setbacks restricted Watt to 10 video games throughout the 2022 season, however he recorded
11.5 sacks over 17 contests this previous marketing campaign. That mentioned, his final sack final season occurred in Week 15, and he was responsible for zero conventional stats throughout Pittsburgh’s wild-card playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens after he appeared to harm his arm/wrist throughout that contest.
Watt is within the final year of the extension he signed forward of the 2021 season.
Per Ryan Phillips of Sports activities Illustrated, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter mentioned throughout a Wednesday look on “The Pat McAfee Present” that he would not imagine Watt will get a greater deal than the four-year, $160M contract extension that included $123.5M assured that Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns inked in March. Schefter additionally mentioned he “cannot think about that T.J. Watt would not be there for the beginning of coaching camp and Pittsburgh wouldn’t get a deal executed.”
It is unclear if Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons resetting the market by signing a brand new deal at any level this summer season would trigger Watt to change his asking worth. Whereas Palmer added that he is assured a deal between Watt and the Steelers “is most certainly going to get executed,” it seems like the 2 sides are nonetheless engaged in back-and-forth conversations relating to the assured cash hooked up to the anticipated extension.
