We’ve seen some negative reports surrounding contract talks between the Pittsburgh Steelers and star edge rusher T.J. Watt lately, but one NFL insider offered hope that something will get done between the two sides.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, he remains optimistic that Watt and the Steelers will eventually come to an agreement and believes that the deal will pay the seven-time Pro Bowler “upwards of $40 million” annually.
Pelissero adds that the deal will be “north of Myles Garrett” and will reset the market among edge rushers.
“I’ve said repeatedly here and elsewhere, I believe that they will find a way, if not before training camp then before the season, to get that done,” he said on The Rich Eisen Show.
“It is going to be north of Myles Garrett. It is going to be upwards of $40 million per year. All I would tell you Rich, it is going to be big money. I believe we are going to see a reset in the edge market again.”
Garrett reset the edge rusher market earlier this offseason with a four-year, $160 million deal from the Cleveland Browns.
Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently reported that Watt was seeking to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. He added that Watt’s deal could total five years in order to spread out the money.
In order to gain the title of the highest-paid non-quarterback, Watt would have to get a deal that tallies more than Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase’s, who landed a four-year, $161 million deal this offseason.
This positive report comes on the heels of a negative one from CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala, who reported that Watt and the Steelers had a bit of contentious meeting recently while discussing a new contract.
There has been no shortage of speculation that Watt could be traded, but reports suggest the Steelers have no interest in such a move.
