3 Reasons Why the Steelers Shouldn’t Hesitate in Making TJ Watt the Highest-Paid Non-Quarterback in NFL History

Watt can only become the highest-paid non-quarterback by eclipsing Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase‘s $40.25 million per year contract. He currently earns $18 million per year through his contract.

Why should the Pittsburgh Steelers make TJ Watt the highest-paid non-quarterback?

1. Unlike the Eagles and 49ers, who stockpiled tons of draft picks for next year, the Steelers are doing the opposite. They want to win now because it has been too long since they tasted a postseason victory.

They need Watt at the base of their defensive line to challenge the likes of the Ravens and the Bengals in their division, besides the Chiefs, Bills, and the Texans in the conference. Watt may be on the wrong side of 30, but he is still one of the best pass rushers in the game.

Last season, he had 61 combined tackles, 11.5 sacks, 27 quarterback hits, and a league-best 6 forced fumbles. Alex Highsmith and Cam Heyward are elite players, while Derrick Harmon is a promising rookie. However, without a player like Watt at the base of the defense, the Steelers will lose the fear factor that he generates.

2. The Steelers are well aware that a player like Watt can instantly improve any defense. Trading him at the peak of his powers might come back to haunt him later on. Fortunately, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler revealed on Get Up that general manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin aren’t willing to trade Watt.

They believe that at 30 years old, [Watt] still has several good years left. They’re just gonna have to come up with a number and a good guarantee structure. He did miss minicamp, so Pittsburgh has a lot of work to do. But typically, Pittsburgh perks up in these things around training camp and late July.

Jeremy Fowler said via Steelers Wire

Mark Kaboly, the Steelers correspondent for the Pat McAfee Show, backed Fowler’s claims.

I don’t think the Steelers are interested, whatever, in moving [TJ Watt]. I think they are going to end up signing him.

3. Watt has played his entire career with the Pittsburgh club, and while nothing is guaranteed in the NFL, it is in the Steelers’ best interest to keep him. He is the sack king with 108.0 sacks, which is 19.5 more than the next best, Heyward, with 88.5, and he has played 100 fewer games.

Watt also lodged 462 tackles, 126 tackles for loss, 225 quarterback hits, 7 picks, 49 pass deflections, and 33 forced fumbles in just eight years. If winning the Super Bowl is Tomlin’s goal, then Watt should be on the roster.