Big news for Steelers fans: Aaron Rodgers drops hint on the future for T. J. Watt

The Pittsburgh Steelers got their on-field preparations underway with the start of a team minicamp this week, the first chance for new quarterback Aaron Rodgers to get acclimated with the team.

The 41-year-old joins a team that should be challenging for championships but has struggled to find a reliable play-caller in recent seasons. The veteran Rodgers is not a long-term option for the Steelers but he could help them make the most of an incredible defensive line, recently ranked best in the entire NFL by Pro Football Focus.

A key part of their defensive success is T. J. Watt, the linebacker who was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. Watt has been selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the past seven seasons, but his future is unclear as the team looks to strike a deal on his contract extension.

Negotiations have taken longer than fans hoped but there may be light at the end of the tunnel. Watt is now entering the final year of his current deal but Rodgers hinted that the two sides may be close to an agreement.

“I think the thing that’s really exciting about Pittsburgh is the built in leadership that already exists there,” Rodgers said during an appearance on The Pat McAfree Show. “And once we get our Hall of Fame outside rush backer signed, you’re talking about another guy who’s a leader.”

Now that the quarterback position is solved, the Steelers will be desperate to ensure that their defensive star remains in Pittsburgh. However they will have to spend big after Watt’s peers recently signed huge contracts.

The Cleveland Browns handed pass rusher Myles Garret a four-year, $160 million extension earlier this year. There are currently four pass rushers who earn at least $34 million per year and that is the figure that Watt will be expecting to hit with his next contract.

Watt’s current contract is worth around $28 million per year and the Steelers have roughly $19 million remaining in empty cap space, meaning that they should be able to find a solution to keep their star happy. If they can, they will be genuine contenders for the Super Bowl this season.

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