Steelers OLBs Coach Not Worried About T.J. Watt Skipping Mandatory Minicamp: ‘We Know He's Working Right Now'
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt during a game against the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 8, 2024. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt is skipping mandatory minicamp due to a contract dispute, but outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin is not worried about his absence.
When asked what the team is missing by not having Watt at minicamp, Martin replied, 'Nothing, really. We know what he's doing.'
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Martin said Watt keeps in contact with him and the coaching staff and the fellow outside linebackers.
'We know he's working right now as we speak,' Martin said. 'When he gets here, we know he'll be ready.'
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt during practice on Dec. 19, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Watt, the Steelers' star edge rusher and best player, has not been around the team since cryptically throwing up the deuces on Instagram a few months ago. He did not attend the two-week voluntary OTAs at all. Watt will be subject to $104,768 in fines if he skips all three days of the mandatory minicamp.
Watt is looking for a new contract, as his is set to expire at the end of the 2025 season, and he will likely be looking for one that meets or beats the $40 million per year that the Cleveland Browns gave Myles Garrett earlier this offseason.
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Watt hasn't spoken publicly since separating himself from the team, but comments from his brother, J.J. Watt, have made it seem that Watt is upset about the timing of the deal, and wanted it to be done by now.
The Steelers, on the other hand, almost always wait until the end of the offseason to deal with contract extensions with their own pending free agents, because it gives the team better clarity about how much money they want to have in the opening year of the contract.
The Steelers could save up to about $9 million in 2025 cap space while giving Watt a $40 million-per-year extension, and with the team still pursuing help in the wide receiver market, that flexibility may be essential. The Steelers also may not be able to find such a wide receiver, and thus would prefer to have more of Watt's money in 2025.
The last time Watt needed a new contract in 2021, he attended, but did not participate, in Steelers offseason activities, which was dubbed a hold-in. That contract negotiation dragged on until the final week of the offseason, with Watt agreeing to a contract in the middle of the week before the Steelers' season opener.
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Watt's current deal is a four-year, $112 million contract. He is set to earn $21.05 million in salary in 2025, none of which is guaranteed.
The 30-year-old edge rusher is coming off the least-productive full season of his NFL career, having recorded 11.5 sacks over 17 games. Watt also led the NFL with six forced fumbles. A late-season injury significantly slowed him down, with Watt recording just seven tackles and no sacks over the final four games of the season.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers OLBs Coach Not Worried About T.J. Watt Skipping Mandatory Minicamp: 'We Know He's Working Right Now'
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