*** 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers: TJ Watt signs a 3 year, $123 million deal (6 Viewers)

[steelers1080]

Traded Minkah?

That's crazy IMO. Ramsey was great once but, IMO, Minkah is still a game changer and Ramsey is not.

Minkah has been pretty invisible the last couple of seasons. It may be a scheme thing but he hasn’t been a play maker for a few years

He has been an All-Pro and Pro Bowler more recently than Ramsey. He's also a little over two years younger than Ramsey.

IMO Fitzpatrick>Ramsey but the margin is probably smaller than I recognize. Still, IMO you make a move to add Ramsey to play with Minkah and Watt not as a replacement for Minkah. IMO this is a lateral move at best.

I guess adding Jonnu is nice but I have always wondered why he is never able to stick anywhere.

Over the past two seasons Minkah has had 1 interception and forced 1 fumble. I’m not saying he isn’t a good player but he hasn’t been a playmaker for a while

I still think this is partly due to Austin. His role has changed completely and his autonomy was taken away. He's being forced to basically be the backstop of the defense instead of roaming like he did his first few seasons with us. I would not be shocked if he had much higher productivity next season, but Austin's defense doesn't ask that of the safety.

 

[steelcityman]

If rumors are true, and Watt isnt getting a 1st rd pick in trade return, why sign him to the highest defensive player contract ever?(until Parsons breaks it).
He's been with the Steelers for 8 years, and zero playoff wins. So, its not working. He's a great player, does a lot of things other than rush the passer, but thats a lot of cheddar and 4 yr investment. Seems very Penguin-ish, but the old Penguins won championships at least, but the Penguins are awful now and are years away from being decent.
I just cant believe Buff, Det, GB wouldnt love that dude on their defenses, and a late 1st would be reasonable cost, plus the contact. I assume thats the holdup, no team wants to pay him that much for 4 years.

 

[Chaka]

He's been with the Steelers for 8 years, and zero playoff wins. So, its not working.

Are you putting that on Watt?

 

[steelcityman]

He's been with the Steelers for 8 years, and zero playoff wins. So, its not working.

Are you putting that on Watt?

Not all, but some, a bit, yes. He wants to be the highest paid defender in the NFL. Heavy is the head that wears the crown.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

If rumors are true, and Watt isnt getting a 1st rd pick in trade return,

I dont buy that. An older more broke down Von Miller pulled a 2nd and third for, like, half a season IIRC.

A team will have to pay him, which would lessen the return, but he'd pull a 1st. Top 15? Of course not, but a first.

Buffalo would be nuts not to do it, honestly. In my mind, they're that kind of a player on D away from getting "over the Chiefs hump." Not gonna give away, say, the 29th pick for that? Even with the crazy salary? More than worth it for where they are right now. "Pennants fly forever" etc.

Doesnt really matter, since team likely has zero intent to deal him. Watt gets chapped and demands to be moved, thats a different animal.

 

[menobrown]

If rumors are true, and Watt isnt getting a 1st rd pick in trade return,

I dont buy that. An older more broke down Von Miller pulled a 2nd and third for, like, half a season IIRC.

A team will have to pay him, which would lessen the return, but he'd pull a 1st. Top 15? Of course not, but a first.

Buffalo would be nuts not to do it, honestly. In my mind, they're that kind of a player on D away from getting "over the Chiefs hump." Not gonna give away, say, the 29th pick for that? Even with the crazy salary? More than worth it for where they are right now. "Pennants fly forever" etc.

Doesnt really matter, since team likely has zero intent to deal him. Watt gets chapped and demands to be moved, thats a different animal.

Agree with all of this.

The perfect trade IMO would have been with Atlanta during the draft. That's a team that's been starved for a pass rusher for about 20 years. They gave up next years first for a guy that a lot of teams graded as a mid second round pick, or later. Their pick has legit top 10 potential, which means the pick had legit potential to address he QB of the future. On Atlanta's end got to figure those clowns are barely hanging onto their jobs, especially the GM. Seems like a win/win trade.

But as you said, I doubt it was ever broached because they have no interest in trading him and that only changes if things get testy in the extension talks.

 

[steelers1080]

Just found out about the contract headaches going on right now with all of the 2nd round picks, due to the first 2 being given fully guaranteed contracts. Dodged a bullet there.

 

[Snotbubbles]

If rumors are true, and Watt isnt getting a 1st rd pick in trade return,

I dont buy that. An older more broke down Von Miller pulled a 2nd and third for, like, half a season IIRC.

A team will have to pay him, which would lessen the return, but he'd pull a 1st. Top 15? Of course not, but a first.

Buffalo would be nuts not to do it, honestly. In my mind, they're that kind of a player on D away from getting "over the Chiefs hump." Not gonna give away, say, the 29th pick for that? Even with the crazy salary? More than worth it for where they are right now. "Pennants fly forever" etc.

Doesnt really matter, since team likely has zero intent to deal him. Watt gets chapped and demands to be moved, thats a different animal.

Have you looked at Buffalo's cap situation. Same thing with Detroit. Their 2026 cap situations look like adding a $40M AAV player wouldn't be a great idea.

The Chargers, Rams, Commanders however could do it.

 

[steelcityman]

If rumors are true, and Watt isnt getting a 1st rd pick in trade return,

I dont buy that. An older more broke down Von Miller pulled a 2nd and third for, like, half a season IIRC.

A team will have to pay him, which would lessen the return, but he'd pull a 1st. Top 15? Of course not, but a first.

Buffalo would be nuts not to do it, honestly. In my mind, they're that kind of a player on D away from getting "over the Chiefs hump." Not gonna give away, say, the 29th pick for that? Even with the crazy salary? More than worth it for where they are right now. "Pennants fly forever" etc.

Doesnt really matter, since team likely has zero intent to deal him. Watt gets chapped and demands to be moved, thats a different animal.

Agree with all of this.

The perfect trade IMO would have been with Atlanta during the draft. That's a team that's been starved for a pass rusher for about 20 years. They gave up next years first for a guy that a lot of teams graded as a mid second round pick, or later. Their pick has legit top 10 potential, which means the pick had legit potential to address he QB of the future. On Atlanta's end got to figure those clowns are barely hanging onto their jobs, especially the GM. Seems like a win/win trade.

But as you said, I doubt it was ever broached because they have no interest in trading him and that only changes if things get testy in the extension talks.

IDK about no interest, but they arent going to take a low ball offer for him either. And it could be a player deal too, someone who makes $20M to unload some cap burden.
I think the Steelers know $40M is too much, but they also want the player around a couple more years. He has 3 good years left. Maybe he requires a 4th year and that is holding it all up. IDK. No one does except those in the negotiations. I just think $40M+ for a guy who will be 31 y/o and hasnt helped win anything, as a team, seems like a lot. DPOY is great, but those days are probably over with.
Just because CLEV messed up doesnt mean the Steelers should.

 

[Godsbrother]

Whether or not it’s a good decision to extend Watt is certainly debatable but the Steelers have the cap space now and in the future to easily sign him to a Myles Garrett-like contract if they want to.

 

[steelers1080]

Whether or not it’s a good decision to extend Watt is certainly debatable but the Steelers have the cap space now and in the future to easily sign him to a Myles Garrett-like contract if they want to.

It might not be the optimized thing to do, but the illogical fan side of me just wants him to be a Steeler for his whole career. Like Polamalu and Hines Ward. I know Polamalu was a little rough at the end, but it was worth it to me.

 

[Steelers4Life]

Whether or not it’s a good decision to extend Watt is certainly debatable but the Steelers have the cap space now and in the future to easily sign him to a Myles Garrett-like contract if they want to.

It might not be the optimized thing to do, but the illogical fan side of me just wants him to be a Steeler for his whole career. Like Polamalu and Hines Ward. I know Polamalu was a little rough at the end, but it was worth it to me.

Polamalu didn't try to break the bank at the end of his career, and the Steelers were never hamstrung by it.

At his peak, Polamalu was making around $10M when the cap was in the $120M to $130M range.

Watt would be at $40M+ when the cap is about $280M.

As a percentage, he'd be taking up over 5% more of the cap than Polamalu ever did.

Ward never made close to what Polamalu did.

 

[Grid71]

3-year 123M
He should still have a few good years left. Glad the deal got done.

 

[JoeSteeler]

3-year 123M
He should still have a few good years left. Glad the deal got done.

$108M guaranteed

 

[steelcityman]

3 years is better than 4, or 5. Hopefully he shows up during the holiday season.

 

[steelcityman]

Whether or not it’s a good decision to extend Watt is certainly debatable but the Steelers have the cap space now and in the future to easily sign him to a Myles Garrett-like contract if they want to.

It might not be the optimized thing to do, but the illogical fan side of me just wants him to be a Steeler for his whole career. Like Polamalu and Hines Ward. I know Polamalu was a little rough at the end, but it was worth it to me.

I never cared who a guy played for, Franco, Webster, Harrison....their best years were here. Thats what mattered. Not one or two years someplace else.
Too bad the penguins didnt realize that, they might not be a bottom NHL team for years, with their one aged star.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

I feel confident enough T.J. likely has two years of high-level play left in him, and beyond that it's a crapshoot. Good for him. That's a freakin' bag.

So, "team wins on term, T.J. wins on cash"? Fair enough. Not my money, and I maybe wouldn't have done it at his age, but it's not like it's going to cripple their cap situation in '26-beyond with the likelihood their QB room will be among the cheapest in the league again and he's still a massively good player right now.

Glad this particular soap opera can get put in the rear view and they can focus on trying to find another piece or two at S or WR.

 

[steelcityman]

I would think finding a S shouldnt be tough. Would probably be player preference as to where he wants to play, or for what coach.
With Keenan Allen going back to LAC, that removes one option at WR. Still have Cooper and Gabe Davis floating around. I still would like a Green Bay WR, how many can they keep? Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson (Q), Dontayvion Wicks, Savion Williams, Bo Melton, thats 7 right there, Watson kind of makes it 6 in reality.

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

I would think finding a S shouldnt be tough. Would probably be player preference as to where he wants to play, or for what coach.
With Keenan Allen going back to LAC, that removes one option at WR. Still have Cooper and Gabe Davis floating around. I still would like a Green Bay WR, how many can they keep? Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson (Q), Dontayvion Wicks, Savion Williams, Bo Melton, thats 7 right there, Watson kind of makes it 6 in reality.

The more I think about it. The less I think they need another S. I think Thornhill will play S in Nickle and Rasey in base, with Ramsey in the slot in nickle

 

[5-ish Finkle]

I would think finding a S shouldnt be tough. Would probably be player preference as to where he wants to play, or for what coach.
With Keenan Allen going back to LAC, that removes one option at WR. Still have Cooper and Gabe Davis floating around. I still would like a Green Bay WR, how many can they keep? Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson (Q), Dontayvion Wicks, Savion Williams, Bo Melton, thats 7 right there, Watson kind of makes it 6 in reality.

The more I think about it. The less I think they need another S. I think Thornhill will play S in Nickle and Rasey in base, with Ramsey in the slot in nickle

I could see that happening, yeah.

 

[menobrown]

With Keenan Allen going back to LAC,

?

 

[5-ish Finkle]

I don't think Allen has signed anywhere. Likely opining because Williams retired, but it won't matter.

Not only has he said openly he doesn't want to play in Pittsburgh, he's probably among the worst blocking WRs in the league. Since that's clearly a far bigger deal than it should be to this offensive regime it's pretty much a non-starter with him.

 

[steelcityman]

With Keenan Allen going back to LAC,

?

swear I saw it on X for $6.25M.

I hate X sometimes, jerks just post whatever they want. Guess he hasnt, at least not yet anyway. But Harris did, so why bother with Allen? Makes no sense.

 

[steelcityman]

I don't think Allen has signed anywhere. Likely opining because Williams retired, but it won't matter.

Not only has he said openly he doesn't want to play in Pittsburgh, he's probably among the worst blocking WRs in the league. Since that's clearly a far bigger deal than it should be to this offensive regime it's pretty much a non-starter with him.

i never said I wanted him in Pittsburgh, or Cooper for that matter, or Davis, would rather roll with Roman Wilson and find out and can always use Austin, and even Robert Woods. Paying one of those WRs $8-10M seems like throwing money in the Monongahela River.

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

I don't think Allen has signed anywhere. Likely opining because Williams retired, but it won't matter.

Not only has he said openly he doesn't want to play in Pittsburgh, he's probably among the worst blocking WRs in the league. Since that's clearly a far bigger deal than it should be to this offensive regime it's pretty much a non-starter with him.

i never said I wanted him in Pittsburgh, or Cooper for that matter, or Davis, would rather roll with Roman Wilson and find out and can always use Austin, and even Robert Woods. Paying one of those WRs $8-10M seems like throwing money in the Monongahela River.

They need a WR to play outside

 

[5-ish Finkle]

I don't think Allen has signed anywhere. Likely opining because Williams retired, but it won't matter.

Not only has he said openly he doesn't want to play in Pittsburgh, he's probably among the worst blocking WRs in the league. Since that's clearly a far bigger deal than it should be to this offensive regime it's pretty much a non-starter with him.

i never said I wanted him in Pittsburgh, or Cooper for that matter, or Davis, would rather roll with Roman Wilson and find out and can always use Austin, and even Robert Woods. Paying one of those WRs $8-10M seems like throwing money in the Monongahela River.

They need a WR to play outside

They kind of do, which Davis can. Plus, he can block.

Assume his medicals must've been an issue.