Watt deal done

[StillerDownSouth]

Per Scheffter, highest pd defensive player

[StillerDownSouth]

4 yr extension worth 112 million with 80 guaranteed is what’s being reported.

[DP39]

Steelers signed DE T.J. Watt to a four-year, $112 million extension through 2025.

$80 million of the contract is reportedly fully guaranteed at signing, which would break Joey Bosa's $78 million in guarantees to make Watt the highest-paid defender in the NFL. It ends one of the most important hold-ins of the offseason and locks in Pittsburgh's star edge rusher through his prime years. The Steelers will probably work Watt in slowly through Week 1 as he hasn't practiced much with the team so far, but there's no reason he can't build on his near-DPOY 2020 campaign.

[Ice]

28.03 mill per year. Someone make sure STD is okay

[Greeksteel]

80 mil guaranteed...wow

[Kodiak]

4 yr extension worth 112 million with 80 guaranteed is what’s being reported.

At first I was like "that's a pretty good deal". Then I realized it's $28M per year. Bidding against ourselves again.

Top dollar AND top guarantees. Colbert really outdid himself this time.

[DP39]

28.03 mill per year. Someone make sure STD is okay

More interesting is that his G money is higher than most deals. Most big contract G$ comes in around 67% of the total deal, his is over 71%. That's quite a jump for a team that never pays G$ past year one of the contract. I'd say they made a serious exception to their rule for T.J.

[Jobu]

28.03 mill per year. Someone make sure STD is okay

Hell be fine. He’ll just move on to his next crusade…

[K_C_]

How is STD taking the news?

[Ice]

If his 10 mill salary this year remains the same (pretty sure it should), then it's actually more like 5 years, 122 mill., 24.4 AAV, which is more in line with projections.

Still allows him his guaranteed $ and highest paid status, so both sides save some face.

[Mick]

My accounting would be that we already had franchise tags available to get an additional two seasons for around $38M, so this extension is buying beyond that 2 years for $74M, with maybe $42M of that guaranteed.

[Kodiak]

If his 10 mill salary this year remains the same (pretty sure it should), then it's actually more like 5 years, 122 mill., 24.4 AAV, which is more in line with projections.

But that's not how it works. It's always about the "new" money, and his new money is 4 years for $112M.

[Ice]

Can't keep being "that team" that franchises and discards star players. Players talk, agents talk. It would be a great look to keep doing it in Madden franchise mode, bad look in real life.

[Kodiak]

My accounting would be that we already had franchise tags available to get an additional two seasons for around $38M, so this extension is buying beyond that 2 years for $74M, with maybe $42M of that guaranteed.

And then give him 6% raises in the final two years (very fair, and in-line with cap increases) and you would have had about 4 years for $87M.

Everyone always talks about "hometown discounts" when Colbert has proven, repeatedly, to pay a premium.

[Ice]

If his 10 mill salary this year remains the same (pretty sure it should), then it's actually more like 5 years, 122 mill., 24.4 AAV, which is more in line with projections.

But that's not how it works. It's always about the "new" money, and his new money is 4 years for $112M.

The player/media gets to talk about the new money, but the team factors in the current season. They extended, they didn't tear up the existing. The NFL cap is easier to manipulate than people think. I don't think this deal will kill us. It was likely a decent compromise.

[Kodiak]

Can't keep being "that team" that franchises and discards star players. Players talk, agents talk. It would be a great look to keep doing it in Madden franchise mode, bad look in real life.

If you make a fair offer, then it's on the player if he turns it down forcing you to tag him. I think maybe Colbert likes handing out record contracts almost as much as the players like signing them.

[stillthere]

Good.

Now the team can concentrate on the Bills this week and starting off 1-0 on the quest to Lombardi #7.

[LakecrestSteeler]

Does Mr Watt owe Bell a couple points in all seriousness. Does this happen without the Bell debacle?

Apples and oranges in terms of positions and shelf life, but you have to think some of the vinegar remained to have allowed this deal to be done.

[Kodiak]

The player/media gets to talk about the new money, but the team factors in the current season. They extended, they didn't tear up the existing.

Teams almost never tear up the existing contract. It's not some concession Wattt made, so it really IS about the new money.

[Ice]

The player/media gets to talk about the new money, but the team factors in the current season. They extended, they didn't tear up the existing.

Teams almost never tear up the existing contract. It's not some concession Wattt made, so it really IS about the new money.

So it's essentially 5 years, 122 mill, 80 guaranteed, 24.4 AAV for Watt. Now, how is the 80 spaced out over the contract?

[Kodiak]

So it's essentially 5 years, 122 mill, 80 guaranteed, 24.4 AAV for Watt. Now, how is the 80 spaced out over the contract?

No, it's actually 4 more years for $112M. Full stop. He was already under contract. Teams "tear up" a deal and pay the guy more than he was on the books for about as often as a player takes a paycut because he's underperforming.

[stillthere]

So it's essentially 5 years, 122 mill, 80 guaranteed, 24.4 AAV for Watt. Now, how is the 80 spaced out over the contract?

No, it's actually 4 more years for $112M. Full stop. He was already under contract. Teams "tear up" a deal and pay the guy more than he was on the books for about as often as a player takes a paycut because he's underperforming.

Also this year is fully guaranteed (5th year option at 10 million) so it is like saying 5 years 90 million guaranteed.

[LakecrestSteeler]

If I was a betting man, the players had a private meeting about Watt and told the FO to get the deal done.

They all seem to be pretty on message, too on message about how TJ needs to be paid.

I don’t recall this during the Bell debacle….could just be faulty memory.

[Ice]

So it's essentially 5 years, 122 mill, 80 guaranteed, 24.4 AAV for Watt. Now, how is the 80 spaced out over the contract?

No, it's actually 4 more years for $112M. Full stop. He was already under contract. Teams "tear up" a deal and pay the guy more than he was on the books for about as often as a player takes a paycut because he's underperforming.

Also this year is fully guaranteed (5th year option at 10 million) so it is like saying 5 years 90 million guaranteed.

So, 5 years, 122, 90 guaranteed, 24.4 AAV.

[zeke5123]

My accounting would be that we already had franchise tags available to get an additional two seasons for around $38M, so this extension is buying beyond that 2 years for $74M, with maybe $42M of that guaranteed.

While avoiding any hold out drama, etc. I think it’s probably rich by about 10m all things equal.

[K_C_]

If I was a betting man, the players had a private meeting about Watt and told the FO to get the deal done.

They all seem to be pretty on message, too on message about how TJ needs to be paid.

I don’t recall this during the Bell debacle….could just be faulty memory.

That's probably because Bell was an empty-headed twatwaffle.

[zeke5123]

If I was a betting man, the players had a private meeting about Watt and told the FO to get the deal done.

They all seem to be pretty on message, too on message about how TJ needs to be paid.

I don’t recall this during the Bell debacle….could just be faulty memory.

Watt also showed up at practice before signing

[stillthere]

If I was a betting man, the players had a private meeting about Watt and told the FO to get the deal done.

They all seem to be pretty on message, too on message about how TJ needs to be paid.

I don’t recall this during the Bell debacle….could just be faulty memory.

Watt also showed up at practice before signing

He was putting in work everyday. He just was not participating in live team drills (and honestly he doesn't need the extra work). This actually helped get more reps for Ingram and Highsmith which is just a bonus for the D.

[Orangesteel]

STD’s head just exploded

[Roeth2Rudolph]

WATT POWER!!! WATT POWER!!!