The Pittsburgh Steelers have faced their fair share of drama this offseason, and it seems to keep piling up. If the Steelers' lack of a clear starting quarterback and the team's troubles along the defensive line weren't enough, star edge rusher TJ Watt recently sparked trade rumors with a cryptic Instagram post. Many speculated that Watt and the Steelers were initially unable to agree on terms for a contract extension. It may also be no coincidence that Steelers rival Myles Garrett recently became the highest paid non-quarterback in the NFL, which may have raised Watt's expectations for what he deserves. According to one ESPN analyst, Watt may be in for a rough year and might not be worth the trouble.
On Wednesday, ESPN analyst Mike Clay released his 2025 NFL Projection Guide for every team. If the projection is anything to go by, Watt may be in for the worst season of his career. Clay projects Watt to have 60 tackles, 10.1 sacks, and 0.2 interceptions over 914 snaps.
For now, Watt remains a strong defensive talent. It would be an unfortunate fall for the linebacker to crumble next season. With only the statistics themselves in the guide, it isn't clear what reason could be attributed to Watt having such a poor season. One can assume his age, plus his slight decline in play during the end of the 2024 season being the main possible reasons.
Watt is on the last year of his current contract with the Steelers. Garrett's new deal with the Cleveland Browns is a four-year, $160 million contract, which amounts to $40 million a season for the 29-year-old defensive end. By contrast, Watt's current contract with the Steelers is a four-year, $112 million contract that guarantees Watt a $28 million yearly salary. If Watt is asking for Garrett-type money, it would be a hefty step up for the Steelers, and potentially even be more than the team is willing to pay.
Watt having a bad season is purely a hypothetical for now. However, the risk of losing the linebacker due to a contract dispute is very real. Some have speculated that the Steelers will trade Watt to get the most out of the player. One suggested trade proposal would be for Watt to go to the San Francisco 49ers, and in return, the Steelers get quarterback Brock Purdy. It's a far-fetched scenario and one that can't be taken too seriously; however, it highlights the concern the fan base has around the ability of the Steelers to successfully keep Watt in Pittsburgh.
Steelers great Ben Roethlisberger recently weighed in on the situation on his podcast Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger. Although things may look bleak from a contract perspective, Roethlisberger stressed that the Steelers couldn't afford to lose Watt.
Steelers Need To Overcome Controversy To Succeed In The Upcoming Season
Drama with Watt was the last thing Pittsburgh needed this offseason. The quarterback-sized hole in the team's roster has drawn most of the media attention, and the organization's inability to sort out who their starting signal-caller for 2025 will be has become a bad look among fans. The Steelers are also no doubt still feeling the sting of their playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens last season in which Pittsburgh was dominated by Baltimore's run game. They went into this year's draft with a commitment to bolstering the defense and making sure such a defeat can't happen again.
Now, the risk of losing Watt has come out of left field and is another thorn in the Steelers' side. It's more likely than not that the Steelers will do whatever it takes to keep a player that is so vital to their defense, but it may cost them more than they expected.
