Mark Madden: Steelers would be wrong to extend T.J. Watt's contract now, but they will

As the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offseason kicks into high gear with the launch of NFL free agency Wednesday, their handling of T.J. Watt’s contract situation figures to exemplify the weakness of their organization.

The superstar edge rusher and 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year is heading into the final year of a deal that carries a $30.4 million salary cap hit.

He’s going to want an extension. If he doesn’t get one, Watt might “hold in” — be present when required, including at training camp, but participate minimally.

The Steelers will capitulate. They always do in that circumstance. If they don’t give in even sooner. Two years at $35 million per is what figures.

That is 100% the wrong thing to do.

Watt had zero sacks in 10 of 18 games last season. At 30, he’s fading. He had the eighth-most sacks in the NFL with 11¹⁄₂, but no stats at all in the Steelers’ last two games. He was fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. But that seemed based on reputation, not performance.

Watt is finally talking about lining up in different spots, not just constantly rushing wide from the end. Desperation is a stinky cologne.

Giving Watt a new pact that dishes out quarterback money is absolutely the wrong thing to do. It’s stupid. It would be paying for lifetime achievement, not for what Watt can still do.

Watt should play out the final year of his contract.

The Steelers should evaluate his performance at season’s end. If Watt is worth keeping, do a new deal then. If Watt balks, franchise him.

If Watt refuses to play in 2025 without a new contract, let him sit. The Steelers probably won’t win a playoff game, let alone be legit contenders to make a playoff run.

The Steelers would do worse without Watt but likely won’t go far with him. At some point, Watt becomes the bad guy in the public’s eyes.

Watt needs to play in six games to burn off his contract’s final season. If he did that, he’d forfeit 11 game checks, be docked with a bunch of fines and the Steelers could still franchise him.

When you haven’t won a playoff game in eight seasons, it’s time to quit screwing around. Play hardball according to what’s best for the team.

The Steelers won’t do that.

Extending Watt is reportedly a priority.

The Steelers are determined that nobody should know an unpleasant moment.

Except the fans when eight seasons without a playoff win becomes nine.

Terms like “Steeler for life” get thrown around. But what if that Steeler never wins a playoff game in his life?

It’s a soft organization.

Fanboys blab about the urgency of extending Watt, that his price tag will go up now that Las Vegas edge rusher Maxx Crosby has signed a three-year, $106.5 million contract.

But Crosby is 27 and in his prime despite missing five games last season. (I remember when the Steelers fairly bragged that they set their own value on players without considering outside influence.)

The Los Angeles Chargers just cut Joey Bosa, 29, who is No. 2 on their all-time sack list. No sentiment there.

Sure, Cam Heyward had an All-Pro season in 2024 after getting his extension. But Heyward was already contracted for ’24. The Steelers could have dealt with Heyward the same way I’m suggesting for Watt.