BREAKING NEWS: Insider Hints T.J. Watt Could Top Myles Garrett’s Deal in Steelers Contract Talks

When the Cleveland Browns handed Myles Garrett a record-setting contract extension worth $40 million per year, it reshaped the financial landscape for elite pass-rushers. Now, that ripple effect may be hitting the Pittsburgh Steelers as they prepare for contract negotiations with their own star defender, T.J. Watt.

Watt, who is heading into the final season of his current $112 million contract, becomes eligible for an extension in the 2025 offseason. With Garrett now setting the bar, Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo believes Watt could push for an even bigger payday.

“I think T.J. Watt deserves to be paid more than Myles Garrett,” Fittipaldo said during an appearance on 93.7 The Fan. “But the Steelers are in a tough spot because the Browns overpaid Garrett. It’s thrown the edge-rusher market out of balance, and now Pittsburgh has to deal with that. I do think they’ll figure out a way to keep T.J., but it’s not going to be an easy negotiation.”

Both Watt and Garrett were drafted in 2017 and have been dominant forces in the AFC North ever since—Garrett going first overall, and Watt 30th. Despite the gap in draft position, their careers have produced remarkably similar stats.

The Steelers aren’t the only team facing this challenge. Several top-tier pass-rushers—like Aidan Hutchinson, Micah Parsons, Trey Hendrickson, Haason Reddick, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Jaelan Phillips—are due for new deals in 2026, and Garrett’s contract is likely to influence those negotiations as well.

While Garrett’s deal is currently making headlines, it followed another massive contract just weeks earlier. The Las Vegas Raiders signed Maxx Crosby to a $106.5 million extension with $91.5 million guaranteed, briefly making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history—until Garrett’s deal topped it.

With edge rushers becoming increasingly valuable, not every team can afford the escalating price tags. However, the Steelers are projected to have the fourth-most cap space in 2026, positioning them well to potentially meet Watt’s demands.