Just in time, Steelers wrap up Watt with record-setting $112M extension

The Steelers locked up star pass rusher T.J. Watt to a record-breaking deal Thursday, agreeing to a 4-year, $112-million deal that includes $80 million in guaranteed money according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.

The deal, which averages $28 million per year, will keep Watt with the Steelers through the 2025 season.

The contract average makes Watt the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL, surpassing the $27-million deal the Chargers gave Joey Bosa in 2020.

In four NFL seasons, Watt, a first-round pick in 2017, has recorded 49.5 sacks. He has finished as a finalist for the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in each of the past two seasons, including 2020 when he led the NFL with 15 sacks.

Watt is expected to be ready to go when the Steelers open the regular season at Buffalo Sunday.

But how much he is capable of playing remains to be seen.

"We've got to be smart on how we use him if he plays," defensive coordinator Keith Butler said Thursday. "I think we've got to be careful about how many plays he plays. He's a veteran. He knows how he feels when he starts playing. We've just got to be smart enough to know how much is too much and how much is too little."

But his teammates are definitely glad to have this behind them.

Having Watt available is a big deal considering the status of bookend Alex Highsmith, who is expected to start opposite Watt this season to replace departed Bud Dupree. Highsmith missed practice Thursday because of a groin injury, leaving the Steelers thin at outside linebacker.

With Watt perhaps on a pitch count and Highsmith perhaps out, the Steelers would have veteran Melvin Ingram, signed before the start of training camp, and first-year player Jamir Jones as the only other outside linebackers on their 53-man roster. The team would likely have to make a roster move to add an additional linebacker from their practice squad. The Steelers have Delontae Scott and Derrek Tuszka on their practice squad, but both were signed last week and did not spend training camp with the team.

"We'll see. I hope we do," Butler said when asked if the team will have enough outside linebackers available to play against the Bills. "There's a lot of stuff going on. I'm not real concerned about it."

Perhaps giving a hint things were close, Watt had cleats custom-made for Sunday's game. He also is scheduled to speak to the media Friday.

Between the Jones, Scott and Tuszka, they have nine combined games of NFL experience, all by Tuszka, who appeared in nine games for the Broncos last season, making six tackles. Jones made the Steelers' 53-man roster after being out of football last season with a strong preseason, but has no NFL experience.

"We're trying not to put too much stress on him mentally," Butler said of Jones. "We want him to be able to play and play fast. We'll see with him. Hopefully, we'll have the outside guys ready to play, Melvin, it's good to have him. It's good to have (Highsmith). I think (Highsmith) will be alright. We'll see."

Watt sat out all of the team's preseason and training camp as his representation and the team continue to work on a contract extension beyond the 2021 season. He's was entering the final year of his rookie and was scheduled to earn $10.089 million this season prior to his extension.

One player who had been watching how these negotiations played out was safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who will be in the same situation next season. Fitzpatrick is entering his fourth NFL season and is still on his rookie contract, though the Steelers picked up his fifth-year option as they did with Watt a year ago.

“Yeah, I’m paying attention to it,” Fitzpatrick said Thursday. “This is a similar situation to where I could be next year or in the future. I’m talking to him. I’m just getting a feel for how the organization and everyone else is going about it. I don’t have too much to say about it. Everybody has a way they do business and you have to respect that."

But Fitzpatrick doesn't have any concerns regarding Watt's status for Sunday's game.

“No big deal," he said. "It’s TJ Watt.”