When the Pittsburgh Steelers signed star edge rusher T. J. Watt to a three-year, $123 million extension last summer, the move was viewed as a commitment to one of the franchise’s greatest defensive players. Less than a year later, however, not everyone is convinced the deal will age well.
Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon ranked Watt’s contract as the fifth-worst in the league, citing concerns about the veteran pass rusher’s recent decline in production.
“The 31-year-old’s sack numbers have plummeted from
19 in 2023 to 11.5 in 2024 to seven in 2025,” Gagnon wrote. “This was his first relatively full non-All-Pro season since 2018, indicating that a decline is well underway.”
Watt, who turns 32 during the 2026 season, is coming off a campaign in which he recorded seven sacks after posting 11.5 in 2025 and 19 in 2023. The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year remained a disruptive force, but his sack totals have steadily declined over the last three seasons.
The financial commitment is substantial. Watt’s extension carries $108 million in guaranteed money and ties him to Pittsburgh through the 2028 season. Gagnon also pointed to the potential long-term ramifications of the deal.
“Even if the Steelers move on after the 2027 campaign, Watt will have cost the team $94 million in salary and dead-cap charges for just two seasons of work,” he wrote.
Despite the criticism, Watt remains one of the most accomplished defenders in franchise history. He owns the NFL’s single-season sack record and has been the centerpiece of Pittsburgh’s defense for nearly a decade. His presence still commands attention from opposing offenses and creates opportunities for those around him.
However, the Steelers’ edge-rushing room has evolved. Pittsburgh recently signed rising star Nick Herbig to a four-year, $100 million extension, while veteran starter Alex Highsmith remains under contract as well. With significant money now invested in all three players, the organization could eventually face difficult decisions regarding how resources are allocated along the defensive front.
For now, there is little indication the Steelers are ready to move on from Watt. Still, as Herbig continues to emerge and Highsmith remains a productive starter, questions about the future of Pittsburgh’s EDGE room are likely to persist.
A few years ago, the idea of the Steelers parting ways with Watt would have seemed unthinkable. If his production continues to trend downward while the team’s younger pass rushers ascend, that conversation may eventually become much less shocking.
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