T.J. Watt’s résumé speaks volumes: four-time First-team All-Pro, seven Pro Bowl selections, three Deacon Jones Awards, and he even led the NFL in forced fumbles twice. A cornerstone of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Watt is set to enter the final year of his contract in 2025—unless an extension gets done. As head coach Mike Tomlin navigates other big questions like the uncertainty around veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the team is feeling the pressure from both ends—offense and defense.
Recently, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly appeared on The Pat McAfee Show and answered fan questions during a mailbag segment. When asked whether the team would pay Watt, Kaboly revealed that a three-year, $105 million extension is expected around June. That would lock Watt in through 2028.
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Mark Kaboly / Steelers Correspondent
For The @PatMcAfeeShowPITTSBURGH — When will Aaron Rodgers sign with the Steelers took a backseat for a brief moment.
Many Steelers’ fans… pic.twitter.com/a5gD2bdavm
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) April 7, 2025
Tomlin has consistently praised Watt, even calling him “the best defensive player on the planet” in 2023. But Watt’s mindset has shifted. His focus is no longer on individual stats—he wants a Super Bowl, especially as he enters his seventh year in the league.
If finalized, the deal would amount to $35 million per year, just slightly below the $35.6 million annual deal signed by Texans’ edge rusher Danielle Hunter. Earlier reports from The Athletic’s Diana Russini suggested the Steelers were unlikely to offer a deal near $40 million that would surpass Browns star Myles Garrett as the NFL’s highest-paid defender. Kaboly’s update seems to confirm that Pittsburgh intends to keep the deal under that ceiling.
Meanwhile, the Steelers are still waiting for an answer from Aaron Rodgers. Although Rodgers visited the team’s facility, met with Tomlin, and even tossed a pass to wide receiver DK Metcalf, he hasn’t made a decision. Despite being offered a one-year, $30 million deal, Rodgers continues to remain silent.
NFL insider Adam Schefter remarked that while Steelers owner Art Rooney seems optimistic about Rodgers joining, insiders close to the situation feel left in the dark. Rodgers’ silence is fueling speculation that he’s really eyeing a move to the Minnesota Vikings—a team that reportedly doesn’t share that interest.
Rodgers’ reluctance puts Tomlin in a tough spot. While Pittsburgh made the playoffs last season, their late-season collapse—including four straight losses and a Wild Card defeat to the Ravens—exposed major cracks in their game. The quarterback position remains a critical missing piece, and Rodgers’ indecision is only adding to the drama.
With the draft approaching, questions swirl around whether Rodgers will finally commit—or whether Tomlin and the Steelers will be forced to pivot again.