The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot of issues to cover during the 2025 offseason, and at the top of that list is figuring out who the starting quarterback will be for the upcoming season. On top of that, Pittsburgh is in the top 10 when it comes to cap space, and figuring out how to spend that money wisely is going to be critical in order to have success next season. The Steelers also have some things to handle in-house, which incudes signing TJ Watt to a new contract extension.
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Steelers linebacker TJ Watt sacks former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo during Pittsburgh's 2023 Week 3 victory.
The final year of Watt's current contract is in 2025, so it makes sense for the organization to want to extend him before the season begins. The Steelers don't conduct contractual business in the middle of the season, so the latest a new deal could get done is the beginning of September. Watt isn't the only edge rusher waiting for a new deal during the 2025 offseason, as Maxx Crosby and the Las Vegas Raiders agreed on a new, three-year deal on Wednesday, as Crosby was in a similar situation up to that point.
The #Raiders are making star edge Maxx Crosby the highest-paid non-QB in the NFL, per me and @TomPelissero.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 5, 2025
It’s a 3-year deal worth $106.5M with $91.5M guaranteed. Deal done by @CJLaBoy and @DHendrickson41 of @Wasserman. pic.twitter.com/ALKZqW7uGR
There were some rumblings about whether or not Crosby would want to stay in Las Vegas, but the defender now seems to be committed to the Raiders. He becomes the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL, and he also reset the market for edge rushers.
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Raiders' Maxx Crosby celebrates against the Steelers during the 2022 season.
The deal is great news for Crosby, but it is bad news for every other team that needs to sign their star edge rusher to a new deal. Watt, Myles Garrett, and Micah Parsons are all expected to get new deals during the 2025 offseason, and they will likely want their deals to be higher than Crosby's.
Garrett formally requested a trade from the Cleveland Browns, but they could offer him a lucrative enough deal that would make him stay. If he gets traded, he would likely sign a new deal with his new team. It is likely that the Dallas Cowboys want Parsons around for the long haul, so he will likely be getting a new deal as well.
It is important that the Steelers act quick in extending Watt. There should be no waiting until September to get a deal done. The organization is already behind Crosby and Las Vegas, which Watt's representatives will certainly bring up in negotiations. Watt deserves to be one of the highest-paid edge rushers in the NFL, but if the Steelers are able to get a deal done before Dallas and/or Cleveland, the franchise should be able to save some money.
Matt Freed / AP photo
Steelers' TJ Watt dances with the football after getting a big turnover against the Browns.
Steelers' TJ Watt Could Choose Not To Break The Bank
Watt has made it clear over the years that all he cares about is winning, yet he has not been able to win a single playoff game during his time in Pittsburgh. That must change moving forward, so it is a possibility that he takes less money in order to help the front office build the rest of the roster. Watt's current market value sits at just over $32 million per season, which he is absolutely worth. However, due to his desire to win, maybe there is a world where he decides to take something in the $28 million range to help the team.
It is important to consider that Watt is also several years older than both Crosby and Parsons. Players get paid for what they are going to do on a deal, not only just what they have already done. It should be expected that Watt's production may take a slight dip as he gets older, and his next contract may reflect that.
What do you think about Crosby's new deal in Las Vegas? Let us know in the comments below!
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