Insider predicts how Steelers may react if T.J. Watt holds out amid contract standoff

For a piece published on Monday afternoon, national NFL reporter Armando Salguero of OutKick revealed that a source told him that Pittsburgh Steelers star pass-rusher T.J. Watt "might actually decide not to report" to training camp on July 23 unless "his contract dispute is addressed."

During a Monday appearance on Pittsburgh sports radio station 93.7 The Fan, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly of "The Pat McAfee Show" explained why he feels Watt shouldn't consider using a holdout as a negotiation tactic. 

"I'm showing up," Kaboly said about Watt, as shared by Matthew Marczi of Steelers Depot. "I'm doing my side workout, what I would be doing in Wisconsin anyway, and we can keep the lines of communication open. There's a lot of things that [Steelers general manager Omar Khan] and the organization have changed over the past three or four years. I don't think they're willing to say, 'We're willing to negotiate with people who are not here.'" 

Back in the summer of 2021, Watt relegated himself to individual drills through the preseason until he signed an extension in time to play in the Steelers' regular-season opener. Pittsburgh reportedly "remains optimistic" the two sides will eventually get a deal done before Week 1 of the upcoming campaign arrives, but ESPN's Jeremy Fowler suggested on Monday that Watt is dissatisfied with how much guaranteed money the club has thus far offered him. 

Salguero is among those who have said Watt wants "to exceed" the four-year, $160M extension that included $123.5M guaranteed that the Cleveland Browns handed Myles Garrett earlier in the offseason. Fowler noted that "most people I talk to around the league do expect [Watt] to be the highest-paid pass-rusher when he does get paid." That said, Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys is expected to sign an extension worth more than Garrett's at some point this summer. 

Watt turns 31 years old in October, while Parsons will be 26 through the end of the 2025 season. 

The Steelers allegedly "have zero intention of trading" Watt, as he is in the final year of his existing contract. It's unclear if Watt staying away from the team at the start of training camp would cause Khan to reconsider making the one-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year available to other clubs before Labor Day.