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NFL insider's latest update on T.J. Watt continues to point to a major distraction when Steelers' training camp starts next week

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Rob Gregson | Last updated Jul 15, 2025 6:41 PM ET

In just eight days, via publish time, the Pittsburgh Steelers will report to Latrobe, Pennsylvania, to begin training camp.

When they do so, all eyes will be on T.J. Watt and whether or not he shows up, and what he says if he does.

Unless, of course, the two sides agree ahead of July 23rd. However, that seems to be increasingly unlikely...

T.J. Watt, Steelers remain at a standstill

"I think that the issue there right now would seem to be the length of the years in the contract," Adam Schefter said this morning on ESPN's Unsportsmanlike via SD. "Again, Trey Hendrickson and T.J. Watt, they want more years. The team wants to give them fewer years. Both players are in their 30s, so for the players, it's about getting as much guaranteed money as you can over a longer period of time . . .

" . . .Pittsburgh is more intent upon keeping T.J. Watt than Cincinnati is with Trey Hendrickson. I think Pittsburgh and T.J. Watt somehow will figure out a way. Best I could tell, they haven't gotten close recently, but we'll see if they can figure out a way to get that done by the time camp begins."

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You better believe that all anyone is going to be asked about, players, coaches, Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan, etc., is whether T.J. Watt will show up. For a team that is supposed to be locked in on going all in, that is a distraction.

And I see both sides of the equation here. Watt wants to be paid what he deserves as the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league. The problem is, the Steelers likely want to do that for a year or two, whereas Watt wants his guaranteed money to spread through the life of the deal.

But the life of the deal for Watt could very well be 4-6 years, which would place him beyond his mid-30s at that point. No matter how much you like a player, guaranteeing him that much money at the stage of his career is bad business.

So the holding pattern will continue until someone concedes. Watt vs. Steelers brass part two.

We'll see if Watt takes this one or takes the Steelers' final offer like he did in 2021.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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