Steelers insider addresses what T.J. Watt wants regarding contract extension

A significant reason the Pittsburgh Steelers and pass-rusher T.J. Watt haven't yet come to terms on a multiyear contract extension is that the sides disagree on the amount of guaranteed money to be attached to the deal. 

During a Wednesday appearance on Pittsburgh sports radio station 93.7 The Fan, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly of "The Pat McAfee Show" revealed what he has learned about Watt's alleged contract desires. 

"I heard on Friday...that it's more than just one thing," Kaboly said, Steelers Depot's Josh Carney shared. "It is definitely the length of the contract. I'm not sure the specifics, but I'm assuming he does want five years. I think he wants four of those guaranteed, and I think he wants to be the highest-paid edge-rusher as well."

There's probably no chance Watt will enter Week 1 as the league's highest-paid edge-rusher after the Cleveland Browns' Myles Garrett reset the market earlier in the offseason via his four-year, $160M extension that included $123.5M guaranteed. It's expected that Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons will sign a big-money deal later this summer, and he indicated earlier this week that he won't be giving the Cowboys a discount in negotiations. 

Meanwhile, ESPN's Ben Solak predicted on Wednesday that the Cincinnati Bengals will soon make veteran Trey Hendrickson "a top-three highest-paid defensive player in football." Both Watt and Hendrickson will be 31 when 2025 ends, while Garrett will be 30. Parsons turned just 26 in May. 

StatMuse shows that Hendrickson's 35 sacks over the past two seasons are the most in the NFL for that period. Watt is second on the list with 30.5 sacks.

Eventually, one of the three players looking for extensions will accept a deal that could spark a domino effect regarding the other two. If Watt simply wants to be able to say that he was the league's highest-paid edge-rusher for even a day, he should put pen to paper on an extension before the Cowboys announce that they've signed Parsons to what will likely be a historic contract.