With the Steelers’ latest wild-card loss in the books, several key decisions need to be made in the near future. In terms of core players, one of Pittsburgh’s top priorities could be working out an extension with edge rusher T.J. Watt. 
The 2021 Defensive Player of the Year has one year remaining on his current deal, and he is due just over $21MM in 2025. His scheduled cap hit is more than $30MM, though, so working out a new contract could lower that figure while ensuring he remains in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future. To no surprise, Watt himself expressed a desire to hammer out another extension this offseason.
“I want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler,” the 30-year-old said (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “I don’t want to leave this place… I want to be part of the solution, not leave here and go somewhere else. That’s not my intention at all.”
Watt’s play during his rookie contract earned him a four-year, $112MM extension. When at full health, he has proven that commitment to be a sensible one on the Steelers’ part. The former first-rounder tied the all-time single-season sacks record with 22.5 in 2021, and upon return from an injury-shortened campaign last year, he added another 19 to his career total. An ankle sprain did not produce any missed time in 2024, and Watt racked up 11.5 sacks along with a league-leading six forced fumbles.
With an AAV of just over $28MM, Watt’s deal now ranks fourth in the league amongst edge rushers. The position could see considerable change this offseason from a financial perspective, with Micah Parsons once again eligible for a second contract and Myles Garrett in line to secure another lucrative commitment from the Browns. Trey Hendrickson will also no doubt attempt another round of negotiations with Bengals for a big-ticket deal after he led the league in sacks in 2024.
Watt could very well find himself at or near the top of the EDGE pecking order with a third contract, although his age could give the Steelers pause. In general, it would not come as a surprise if general manager Omar Khan attempted to allocate more resources to the offensive side of the ball in 2025, something which may very well include a new deal for quarterback Russell Wilson. Even with fellow outside linebacker Alex Highsmith attached to a notable second contract, though, Watt is likely to remain in the Steelers’ plans.
This past June, the four-time All-Pro noted he is uncertain of how long he plans on playing in the NFL. His otherwise stellar career has been marred by a lack of postseason success, but today’s comments confirm he does not wish to seek out a trade sending him elsewhere or attempt to set up a potential free agent departure. As Pittsburgh prepares to move forward with head coach Mike Tomlin, it will be interesting to see how amenable the team is to another Watt extension.