INDIANAPOLIS — It won’t happen until after the quarterback position is resolved. It might not transpire until late in training camp or a few days before the start of the regular season — just like it did in 2021.
Make no mistake, though, an offseason priority for the Pittsburgh Steelers will be securing outside linebacker T.J. Watt to a contract extension.
Watt is entering the final season of a contract that will pay him $21 million in base salary and count $30.4 million against the salary cap in 2025.
“T.J. is one of those legacy guys,” general manager Omar Khan said Tuesday at the NFL Combine. “I was around Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu, and those guys spent their entire careers with us, and that’s a special thing. I’m hopeful and confident that T.J. will be one of those guys.”
Despite a slow finish to his season, Watt was a finalist for the league’s defensive player of the year award, which he won in 2021 after he signed a five-year contract.
Watt suffered an ankle injury in the Week 15 loss at Philadelphia, and it hampered his effectiveness as a pass rusher down the stretch. Watt didn’t record any of his 11.5 sacks in the final three weeks of the season, and he was held without a tackle in the wild-card playoff loss at Baltimore.
“Offenses did a good job scheming against him, but T.J. is T.J.,” Khan said. “I’m glad to have him.”
At least for a few more seasons, if Khan has any sway with ownership.
“We want T.J. here for a long time,” Khan said. “We’re going to do our part to get something done at the right time. I think he feels the same way.”
Going to his left
Last March, Khan said Broderick Jones’ future with the Steelers eventually would be at left tackle.
That time has come.
With four-year starter Dan Moore Jr. set to depart in free agency, Jones will switch sides on the offensive line following two up-and-down seasons at right tackle.
“I’d say it’s a safe assumption that going into this season, he’ll be our left tackle,” Khan said.
Moving Jones to his natural position frees up 2024 first-round draft choice Troy Fautanu to start at right tackle. Fautanu was set to win the job as a rookie but made only one start because of knee injuries.
Fautanu was nearing a return from injured reserve before the Steelers made their playoff exit. Khan said Fautanu will be healthy when offseason workouts begin in April.
Looking for help
It’s no secret the Steelers plan to address wide receiver in free agency or the draft. It was a weakness last season when the organization didn’t adequately replace Diontae Johnson’s production after his offseason trade to Carolina.
Calvin Austin had the second-most catches among receivers with 36. Van Jefferson had 24, and Mike Williams recorded 10 in 10 games after he was acquired in a midseason trade.
“It’s a priority,” Khan said. “I’m not going to run from that. It’s the reality. We have some guys who are free agents. We weren’t good enough at that position. We will look at everything.”
Khan also is on board to restocking a defensive line that returns All-Pro Cameron Heyward and third-year pro Keeanu Benton. The Steelers allowed 299 yards rushing to Baltimore in the postseason after giving up 220 yards on the ground to the Ravens in December.
“It’s important,” Khan said. “We weren’t good enough down the stretch. We have resources from a cap standpoint to address it maybe in free agency. There are some trade candidates out there. This is a really good draft for the defensive line.”
