Watt vs. Garrett Hits Steelers' Offseason

Since being drafted in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt has been chasing down the class’ No. 1 pick, Myles Garrett.

The two have jostled, going sack-for-sack over their first two seasons. The Cleveland Browns star was the first to make an All-Pro team. Watt was named a first-team selection each of the next three years. He was the first (and only) of the two to find 20 sacks in a season, the first to win Defensive Player of the Year, and the first to 100 sacks.

Yet, the best edge rusher in football resides in Cleveland, and he was paid like it.

Garrett attempted to force his way out in the offseason before being signed to a four-year, $160 million that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the sport – until Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase topped him weeks later.

Now, as Watt enters a contract year and makes his extension requests cryptically public, he is once again writing a chapter in this rivalry, bringing it to the negotiation table.

"He's having negotiations with the Pittsburgh Steelers on a long-term contract extension, and talks have not yet resulted in a deal," Ian Rapoport explained on “The Insiders.”

Watt recently took to Instagram to post a picture of himself giving a peace sign, thrusting Steelers fans into a panic. Pittsburgh is incentivized to keep Watt, a franchise icon, around forever. Watt made comments early in the offseason about wanting to be in Western Pennsylvania forever.

This isn’t a full-blown extension-pocalypse, but Garrett has set the bar for Watt. It’s up to the Steelers to meet it or come close enough to appease their star.

"The fact that Myles Garrett got $40 million per year, and if you're T.J. Watt... That's what you're aiming at,” Rapoport said. “That's sort of the goal... This is a good way of keeping the peace but just calling attention that things aren't exactly as I would like."

Pittsburgh has some reasons to be hesitant in meeting Garrett’s deal. Watt is entering his age-31 season, posted his fewest sacks in a healthy season since 2017 (11.5), and he plays a position that doesn’t age well. Given the team’s proclivity for the status quo and the edge rusher’s immense talent, keeping Watt around – no matter the price – still feels more likely than not.