Steelers Insider Gives Fans Honest Outlook On TJ Watt's Future After Selection Of Jack Sawyer

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a respectable 2025 NFL Draft as the organization selected five defensive players compared to just two on the offensive side of the ball. First-round pick Derrick Harmon is already creating some buzz in the Steel City, with many excited to watch him work on the interior of the line for years to come. There were, however, four other individuals picked to operate on defense. One of the more surprising selections was Jack Sawyer, an edge rusher out of Ohio State University. The defender will have the opportunity to work alongside TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig.

There have been a good amount of rumors surrounding Watt during the 2025 offseason. The edge rusher is supposed to be getting a new contract at some point before the regular season, but it's hard to imagine the organization giving him the $40 million per year deal that Myles Garrett received. Connecting that reality with the selection of Sawyer has left some wondering if Pittsburgh is potentially giving up on the former AP Defensive Player of the Year.

Gerry Dulac, a team insider who is very plugged in when it comes to the franchise, made an appearance on the Randy Baumann and the DVE Morning Show on Monday. The reporter shut down the idea of Sawyer's selection affecting the future of Watt.

"I don't think they view this as a TJ Watt replacement," Dulac said. "I believe TJ Watt will be extended and he'll be on the team. So I think it was a matter of getting Jack Sawyer, that type of player, to help their run defense."

Bringing in a guy like Sawyer isn't necessarily to add another electrifying pass rusher into the fold. Instead, the Steelers apparently had another agenda in mind when taking Sawyer 123rd overall.

"This whole thing was designed to improve their run defense," Dulac noted. "They always want four outside linebackers... Having four of them doesn't surprise me. I think it's also the type of player Sawyer is, 6'4" 260. He's a sturdy, stout guy who played defensive end and knows all about setting the edge and stopping the run."

Watt is trending in a direction that could have him be recognized as one of the franchise's best defensive players of all time. To fulfill this, he would likely need to play on at least one more contract. The history of the Steelers' organization makes it difficult for any individual to be recognized as one of the best of all time, but Watt could surely be in the conversation if he plays another four years or so.

Watt has proved time and time again that he is one of the most valuable players in the entire NFL. The team tends to lose consistently when he is not on the field. The front office has to blame itself for not paying Watt in time, because now the reality is a very large per year commitment that isn't typical from Pittsburgh. On top of that, DK Metcalf was just signed to an extension after being traded for that has him earning $30 million each season on average.

Steelers Still Expected To Give Watt A Fresh Deal

Pittsburgh is expected to give Watt another contract as Dulac noted, but it may take a little bit of time for it to be agreed upon. The edge rusher is 30 years old and really fell off at the end of the 2024 campaign. That is something that will be taken into consideration as contract talks progress, but the Steelers are going to have to pay him a large sum of money regardless if the goal is to have him in the Steel City until he retires.

Do you think that the Steelers drafted Sawyer to eventually replace Watt, or is the veteran going to get a new contract soon? Let us know in the comments below!

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