Entering NFL training camp, the Pittsburgh Steelers are facing a major situation that will dictate a lot about the future of the franchise. T.J. Watt still has not been signed to a new deal and there are some concerns starting to come up.
Due to the two sides not agreeing to a new deal yet, rumors have started coming out about potential Watt trades.
While the rumors have started growing louder, the expectation is still that the Steelers and Watt will work something out. However, there is a lot of work to be done to get there.
With the 2025 season coming up quickly, Pittsburgh and Watt have received a new update about where their talks stands. It’s not a “bad” update, but it is concerning.
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Mark Kaboly, a longtime reporter covering the Steelers, shared a new report about the current issues between the two sides.
“Steelers are still in a holding pattern with T.J. Watt’s contract extension,” Kaboly said. “Length of deal, guarantees and total value — basically everything, to some varying degrees — are the sticking points right now.”
He did share a bit of positive news in addition to the concerning update.
“Even so, there is no anticipation for Watt to holdout when camp starts on July 23 and there has been no inquires made to other teams about trading him.”
Watt has been the heart and soul of the Pittsburgh defense for quite a few years. Keeping him in town is a major priority for the Steelers, but they have not caved to what he’s looking to get paid.
During the 2024 NFL season with Pittsburgh, Watt played in all 17 regular season games. He racked up 61 total tackles to go along with 11.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and four defended passes.
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Back in the 2023 campaign, he put together even bigger numbers. He recorded 68 tackles, 19 sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, an interception, and eight defended passes.
At 30 years old, Watt still has some good years left in him. The Steelers may have some concerns about his longevity, but that should not cause a rift between the two parties.
Expect to continue hearing updates about Pittsburgh and Watt in the coming days. It sounds like the discussions haven’t gotten too deep yet. Hopefully, that changes in the near future.
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