Simple Hint From Steelers' TJ Watt Implies That He May Skip Pittsburgh's Mandatory Minicamp

The Pittsburgh Steelers' most important player for several years now has been edge rusher TJ Watt. The team is undoubtedly winning more and playing better when he is on the field. After the Cleveland Browns completely reset the market for pass rushers with the massive Myles Garrett deal, it put other organizations in a tough spot when it comes to top players at the position wanting extensions. That is currently the case with Watt, as he is one of the only players absent from Organized Team Activities (OTAs), and many are wondering if he will decide to skip mandatory minicamp in June.

The sticking point for the Steelers isn't likely the fact that they do not want to extend Watt, but guaranteed money is expected to be a big part of negotiations. If the edge rusher decides to skip the team's mandatory minicamp that will take place from June 10th to 12th, he will be subject to fines that could end up costing him well over $100,000. After signing a lucrative $112 million deal in 2021, that kind of money may not be an issue for Watt in the grand scheme of things.

In the NFL, most players have homes or apartments in the cities that they play in, but also lay down roots in other parts of the country. Watt and his wife, Dani, live in Wisconsin, a state that the two are both originally from. One would expect Watt to come into town the weekend before minicamp to get re-settled in the Steel City. but he indirectly may have dropped a hint that he won't be in Pittsburgh, at least as late as June 7th.

"This year marks the 10th Annual Walk for Children’s, and while Dani and I can’t be there on June 7, we’re thrilled to support UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation," Watt wrote as a caption on an Instagram post.

Watt could easily make his way to Pittsburgh on June 9th, the day before mandatory workouts begin, but he has been very active in supporting the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Children's Hospital Foundation. He may not be able to make it to the 10th Annual Walk for Children's for dozens of reasons, but if it is because he is not planning on reporting to Pittsburgh until he has a new contract, this situation could get a little more complex for the Steelers.

The Watts welcomed their first child during the offseason, so it's also possible that the couple is planning on continuing to spend time together while the NFL season approaches. Overall, however, there's no guarantee that the 2021 AP Defensive Player of the Year is going to be in the Steel City the weekend before mandatory minicamp, which could cause some more speculation.

It's more than likely that Steelers and Watt will come to an agreement, but the timeline for a deal is truly unknown. The veteran would probably have no problem paying a six-figure fine if it sends a message that he is expecting millions of dollars in guaranteed money. That $100,000+ could be forgiven once a deal is agreed upon, or easily replaced with a large signing bonus.

The situation is getting a bit murky as the offseason rolls along. The Browns didn't do the Steelers any favors, and Pittsburgh needs to hope that Micah Parsons or Aidan Hutchinson don't ink deals before Watt does. That could cause a completely different domino effect that changes the way Watt and his camp decide to negotiate a deal.

Steelers Can't Afford To Make Watt Unhappy

While Pittsburgh's edge rushing group is one of the best collective's in the NFL, Watt runs the show. If he is not pleased with how the organization is treating him, it could lead to several unanswered questions that cause some issues. Mandatory minicamp will be a crucial deadline to see how frustrated Watt is, but implying that he may not be in the Steel City just days before the practices could be looked at as concerning.