The Steelers have a BIG decision to make with T.J. Watt...

Rob Gregson discusses why the Pittsburgh Steelers are at a crossroads with star pass rusher T.J. Watt.

Transcript

00:00While the focus in Pittsburgh revolves around the quarterback position, the Steelers have

00:03an even bigger decision lurking in the shadows.

00:07With TJ Watt headed into the final year of his contract, he's going to ask for a pretty

00:12penny and it's up to the Steelers to decide whether or not they're going to pay him.

00:17Hey everyone, Rob Gregson of ADZ Sports Pittsburgh and today we're going to discuss what TJ Watt's

00:25future looks like with the Steelers.

00:27In recent weeks, Watt has watched both Miles Garrett and Jamar Chase, two fellow AFC North

00:34companions, go for over $40 million dollars per year in average salary.

00:39And for Watt, while he might be older than both of those players and had his fair share

00:43of injuries, he knows that he has all the leverage over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

00:49I mean this is a guy who, without him, they don't win games.

00:54Forget the fact that they would go 10-7 back to back years and make the playoffs.

00:59Without TJ Watt, the Steelers simply are not a competitive football team.

01:04He can go to them with his representation and drive up the price based on that fact

01:09alone.

01:10Add in to the equation that his brother, JJ Watt, recently said that the time and place

01:17of a home-down discount is gone and there's no reason to believe that Watt won't demand

01:22upwards of what Miles Garrett just got at over $40 million dollars per year.

01:27And for the Steelers, it is a little bit of a risky proposition.

01:31Obviously one could say, as Watt heads into his age 31 season, that his best days are

01:37behind him.

01:38Watt would obviously argue the opposite.

01:41Most pass rushers tend to play very well into their mid-30s and we know Watt takes care

01:47of himself and is dedicated to the football game.

01:51But the Steelers have to make a business decision.

01:54And how much exactly is Watt going to want and for how many years?

01:58That's what they have to decide.

02:00That's why you've seen in recent weeks, whoa, will the Steelers trade TJ Watt?

02:04Oh, why haven't they extended him as he heads into the final year of his deal?

02:08What does the future look like for him?

02:10But the truth is, the Steelers, Watt, and everyone else knows that they plan to make

02:16him a Steeler lifer.

02:17The question will be how much longer and what is the final billing.

02:23But for the time being, Watt, the Steelers, and everyone that represents him knows just

02:29how much leverage he has and it could end up being a massive payday for Watt one more

02:35time around.