Report: Steelers, Watt discussing new contract

The Pittsburgh Steelers and former Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt have been discussing a contract extension, sources told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac.

The expectation is that the two sides will agree to a new deal before the regular season begins, Dulac reports.

The market for edge rushers ballooned this offseason when the Cleveland Browns signed Myles Garrett to a four-year, $160-million deal with $124 million guaranteed. Garrett's $40-million average annual value is more than $4 million higher than the next closest edge rusher (Danielle Hunter, $35.6-million AAV) and is the highest among all defensive players, per Over The Cap. The Dallas Cowboys' Micah Parsons is also in line for a lucrative extension.

Watt was initially the NFL's highest-paid defender when he inked a four-year, $112-million extension in 2021.

The 30-year-old has registered at least 10 sacks in six of the last seven seasons, including 22.5 in 2021, which tied the NFL record. He finished last year with 11.5 sacks over 17 starts.