Aaron Rodgers has to be smiling.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and their star defender T.J. Watt have agreed to a record-breaking extension.
The Steelers and Watt reached an agreement on a three-year, $123million extension that includes $108m fully guaranteed at signing.
The $41m per year average is the highest of any non-quarterback in NFL history, making Watt the highest-paid non-QB for the second time in his career.
He beats out Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who held that title for the last few months with $40.25m annually, along with fellow star pass-rusher Cleveland Browns Myles Garrett, who is now third on the list at an even $40m.
Watt will now report on time to training camp as the Steelers push all their chips to the middle of the table, which should only excite Rodgers and the very real opportunity he now has for Super Bowl ring No. 2.
In an uncharacteristic offseason, the Steelers have been making big move after big move.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter summed it up perfectly with one post on X, following the Watt news.
“The Steelers’ blockbuster offseason is now complete,” Schefter wrote. “One that included making T.J. Watt the NFL’s highest-paid pass rusher, signing Aaron Rodgers to be the QB, trading for DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey, and Jonnu Smith, trading away Minkah Fitzpatrick and George Pickens, and adding veterans like Darius Slay.”
The storied franchise isn’t known to be big players in the offseason; instead, they draft, develop, and make their own stars. Look no further than Watt.
However, for an organization that hasn’t won a playoff game in nearly a decade, since 2016, it was clear something had to change.
Insert Rodgers, Metcalf and Ramsey.
There’s no wondering how the Steelers view themselves as the season approaches, and that’s as every bit of a Super Bowl contender as anyone else.
The potential drama of a Watt-holdout during training camp is now up in smoke, as the star defender gets his wish, and new record-breaking extension.
Watt has recorded the most sacks in the league over the last five seasons with 73.5, including a career-high and NFL record with 22.5 in 2021 when he won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award.
He tied Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan‘s record for most sacks in a single season.
Outside of an injury-plagued 2022, Watt has recorded at least 11.5 sacks every year since 2018. He is a six-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler.
Since being drafted in the first round in 2017 out of Wisconsin, Watt is first in sacks (108), quarterback hits (225), tackles for loss (126) and forced fumbles (33).
Simply put, there aren’t too many better out there than Watt, if any.
The only minor concern that the Pittsburgh front office may have had when it came to extending Watt is his age.
He will be 31 in October, so a slight decline should be expected. It’s clear the Steelers don’t view that as anything significant, considering he is still playing at an All-Pro level.
Watt’s older brother, J.J. Watt, weighed in on the news.
“Earned. Deserved. Incredible,” the Watt brother posted on X.
He then joked about his brother’s new paycheck, replying to a graphic that showed the three-time DPOY’s total career earnings over his 12-year career at $129.7m, compared to his younger brother’s new deal, which in total almost matches that at $123m in just three years.
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“I swear, if this guy even lets me begin to reach for my wallet at dinner,” Watt joked.
There’s a lot to be happy about these days if you’re a family member of the Watts. Or a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers.