What insider is 'hearing' about Steelers, T.J. Watt contract standoff after Aaron Rodgers comment

Numerous stories surfaced in June hinting that a big reason the Pittsburgh Steelers and unsettled pass-rusher T.J. Watt hadn't yet reached an agreement regarding a contract extension is that Watt wants to better the four-year, $160M deal that included $123.5M guaranteed that Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns signed earlier this offseason.

During a Wednesday update shared on the Bleacher Report YouTube page, NFL insider James Palmer indicated Watt may get his wish before the 2025 campaign gets underway in September. 

"I’m hearing there’s a chance Watt gets past [$40M per season]," Palmer explained, per Noah Strackbein of Sports Illustrated. "He has every right to ask for it. I’ve talked on here a lot about the comparisons between him and Myles Garrett. The numbers are almost identical in every aspect in terms of superlatives and in terms of numbers, and they came in the same draft class. I mean, he has the right to try to get that."

The Browns made Garrett the first overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, while Pittsburgh grabbed Watt with the 30th overall choice of that year's player-selection process. Both men are one-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award winners. According to the StatMuse website, Watt has accumulated the most regular-season sacks (108) since he entered the league. Garrett is second on the list with 102.5.

The perception exists that Garrett used an offseason trade request as a way to receive a pay raise from a Browns team that had no intentions of losing his services this year. Back in the summer of 2021, Watt reported to training camp but participated in individual drills until he received his desired extension. 

That said, quarterback Aaron Rodgers put some pressure on the Steelers during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Tuesday when he discussed what will happen "once we get our Hall of Fame outside rush-backer signed." Rodgers also revealed that he is "pretty sure" he will retire following the 2025 season, so logic suggests he will want a happy Watt practicing when the Steelers officially open training camp on July 24.

On Thursday, Tim Benz of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reminded readers that Watt's extension could become more expensive for Pittsburgh if the club doesn't get the deal done before Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys or Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals resets the market. It remains to be seen if the Steelers can convince Watt to put pen to paper on an agreement before either Parsons or Hendrickson does so.