Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end/linebacker ... ok, pass rusher ... enters 2025 with just one year left on his rookie deal. The former Wisconsin star signed a four-year, $112 million deal with a fifth-year option with the Steelers.
He enters that option year in 2025 which will see him earn a base salary of $21,050,000 with a cap hit of $30,418,964. And he's been worth every penny.
What the Steelers DON'T want is for Watt to hit free agency in a year from now and have to bid against virtually every other team in the league for his services.
The 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year is expected to sign a massive deal to stay in Pittsburgh to become the highest-paid defensive player in the league.
Tony Pauline of Sportskeedia thinks Watt's new deal will be more than Nick Bosa's current contract of $34 million per season.
“T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers is also in the final year of his four-year, $112 million contract he signed in 2022,” Pauline writes. “Watt has combined for 30.5 sacks the past two seasons, winning Pro Bowl and various All-Pro honors each year. Sources say an extension now would award Watt somewhere in the range of $35 to $37 million annually.”
Watt's numbers were down - by his standards - in 2024, but he still managed 11.5 sacks, the third-lowest number of his young career.
His relationship with the Steelers fans and organization is expected to be a key factor in his decision to stay in Pittsburgh.
Steelers Open Free Agent Contract Talks with Najee Harris
The Pittsburgh Steelers decided not to pick up the fifth-year option on running back Najee Harris' contract this offseason that would've paid him $6.7 million in 2025.
The Pittsburgh Steelers decided not to pick up the fifth-year option on running back Najee Harris' contract this offseason that would've paid him $6.7 million in 2025.
Speculation has been that the Steelers would move on from Harris and replace him in the backfield behind ... well, whoever is lined up under center next season.
Rumors even swirled that general manager Omar Khan might even replace him with a Cleveland Brown. Talk about awkward rumors!
But now, we hear the Steelers are, in fact, interested in possibly bringing Harris back, but at a reduced price tag. The problem with that?
He'll be available to other teams too, and that price tag might not be so reduced. Spotrac predicts Harris will sign a three-year deal in free agency for around $27.5 million, or an APY of about $9.2 million.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac has reported the Steelers and Harris' representatives are talking.
"General manager Omar Khan has met with Doug Hendrickson of Wasserman Sports, Harris’ representative, about the possibility of re-signing their former No. 1 draft choice, who is an unrestricted free agent," Dulac wrote.
"Part of the decision is how much it would cost the team to re-sign Harris, who is likely to command between $7 million and $10 million annually," Dulac wrote. "That would seem to be a strange move for the Steelers after they already declined picking up his fifth-year option for 2025, which would have cost them $6.7 million."
The Steelers have money this offseason as they're an estimated $60-plus million under the cap for 2025.
Harris has rushed for 4,312 yards and 28 touchdowns on an otherwise stale offense over the course of four seasons. His 3.9 yards per game rushing average should be blamed on a shaky offensive line rather than reflect poorly on his ability.
