When the Pittsburgh Steelers started their mandatory minicamp today, the air was full of excitement as many were eager to see Aaron Rodgers in person.
But one player who was missing from the game was All-Pro T.J. Watt.
His absence from minicamp makes it obvious that he wants the Steelers to give him a new contract that matches his top-level performance in the NFL.
Not being able to play in this game really matters for Watt. Since he is an NFL player, the seven-time Pro Bowler will receive fines for every day he misses.
If a player did not attend all three days of minicamp, they would have to pay a huge price: $104,768 ($17,462 for Day 1, $34,925 for Day 2, and $52,381 for Day 3).
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Although a sum of $100 million might be impressive to most, it’s no problem for a player as good as Watt.
What is the reason behind the Holdout? Watt Attempts to Find the Fair Price
The main reason for Watt’s holdout is that he hopes his new contract reflects how much he contributes to the team. He is about to begin his final year on a four-year, $112 million contract he signed with the Steelers in 2021.
Back then, Aaron Donald’s contract was the highest ever for a defensive player, but in recent years, the market for top pass rushers has risen a lot.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network says that negotiations for a new contract between Watt and the Steelers have not gone well, as there has been “no progress on a long-term deal.”
It appears that the stagnation has caused Watt to become more vocal by not participating in important activities.
No one can match their defense game.
His accomplishments are proven by what he has done. He has maintained his status as a powerful pass rusher in the league since he joined in 2017.
He has been selected for the First-Team All-Pro four times in the last six years, which shows his outstanding performance. It is clear that he disrupts opposing teams’ plans: he has led the league in sacks three times since 2020, and even last season, he recorded the most forced fumbles.
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His 30.5 sacks during the last two seasons are exceeded only by those of Bengals star Trey Hendrickson. Surprisingly, like other top defenders, Hendrickson is not taking part in minicamp because he wants a fresh contract or a trade deal amid the rising market.
Changes in the way Defensive Contracts are Used
The main problem for Watt is the way NFL defensive contracts are changing over the years. Now, MacKinnon’s annual salary of more than $28 million is only good enough for ninth place among defensive players in the league.
His contract is far below what the top earners get paid. To give another example, Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns just signed a contract for 2025 with an average salary of $40 million, which beats Watt’s current AAV by $12 million.
The contracts of other defensive stars such as Danielle Hunter ($35.6 million AAV) and Maxx Crosby ($35.5 million AAV) are both higher than what Watt receives now.
For the Steelers, Watt’s age, which will be 31 in October, could be a problem when it comes to negotiating a new contract.
Yet, the fact that he rarely misses games and has been healthy for most of his career is a good reason to expect him to be paid like one of the top pass rushers.
He can do more than rush the quarterback; he also plays a big part in many plays by making sacks, tackling ball carriers, forcing fumbles, stuffing the ball, and batting it down. His presence has greatly helped the Steelers’ defense.
An Important Turning Point for the Steelers
The Steelers are especially affected by Watt’s holdout at this time. Since Aaron Rodgers became a Green Bay Packer, the team feels more confident and is now focused on winning as soon as possible.
Mike Tomlin’s Steelers are eager to end a long run without a playoff victory. With Rodgers on the field, Houston is much better, but a defense led by Watt is just as important for reaching the top.
Watt’s teammates are aware of how important he is. It could be argued that he makes the biggest impact as a defensive player.
If he is lost to them for any reason connected to his contract, that could be a major obstacle as they start preparing for what will be another tough year.
The aim of both parties is to have Watt ready for all practices and games by having a deal in place before the season starts.
This situation makes it clear that even famous NFL legends are affected by the challenges faced by the league. It’s important to T.J. Watt to ensure he has a strong future and gets paid as one of the NFL’s best defenders.
For the Steelers, this means finding a way to take care of their finances and keep their main defensive player, in order to compete for the Super Bowl.
This major negotiation will keep people watching closely as it happens in Pittsburgh.