The Pittsburgh Steelers will have some big decisions to make regarding some of their cornerstone players in the coming years, including T.J. Watt.
There always comes a time and place when teams have young players rising to the occasion who deserve to be paid, but also veterans who have always worn the same uniform and are playing on big deals. When the two collide, oftentimes teams have to make difficult decisions. That’s where the Steelers will be soon.
Ian Rapoport Claims T.J. Watt’s Steelers Future Past 2026 May Be In Jeopardy
The Steelers recently signed linebacker Nick Herbig to a four-year, $100 million extension, keeping him in Pittsburgh through 2030. However, what does that mean for Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt?
Highsmith is currently in the third year of his four-year, $68 million extension, which he signed in 2023, and will be a free agent in 2028. Whereas Watt is in the first year of a three-year, $123 million extension.
With the three edge rushers locked in for at least the next two seasons, the Steelers have a lot of money on the books at that position, and it may mean somebody gets traded away.
“As soon as it became clear that Herbig was gonna get a deal, it was like, ‘Hold on, they have so much money on the edge. What are they gonna do with T.J.? What are they gonna do with Highsmith?’ My sense, this year, is nothing,” Ian Rapoport said on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “I don’t get the sense Highsmith is going anywhere… T.J. Watt is not going anywhere this year. He is not. He’s going to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
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However, Rapoport said that after 2026 is when things could get dicey for the group. Watt seemed like a lifetime Steeler, but so did Myles Garrett in Cleveland. Now, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year is in Los Angeles.
“TJ Watt isn’t going anywhere this year and he’s going to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers..
I don’t get the sense that Alex Highsmith is going anywhere either” ~ @RapSheet #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/fZP2w8ghpK
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 4, 2026
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“Now, after this year, I would imagine they have a decision to make one way or the other. T.J. Watt’s contract is enormous. He’s been a one helmet player,” Rapoport said. “I would say, every one-helmet player, you’d sort of like them to stay in the uniform. But we have learned, as we did this past week, that there is a price for everyone.
“So, we’ll see where that goes. I just know, at the second most important position, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot invested and are very well situated; I just don’t think anything will happen this year.”
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The Steelers have Aaron Rodgers back for another season, but even that doesn’t really put them in the Super Bowl conversation.
If Pittsburgh doesn’t put itself in a position to go all in the next couple of seasons, Watt, who ranked ninth in the league last season on PFSN’s EDGE Impact Rankings, might find a new home.
