TJ Watt is one of the best defensive players in the NFL, but an ex-Pro Bowl linebacker believes that the Steelers will one day release him. Former Steelers defensive stalwart James Harrison believes that, with Nick Herbig receiving a hefty extension, time will come where Pittsburgh will release Watt rather than pay him extra after his contract
“Trading Highsmith is not going to happen because they just paid Herbig,” Harrison said on the June 9th edition of the Deebo and Joe podcast. “I feel like it’s gonna be a transition over the next couple of years where we keep that group, and like I said, after that second year, when T.J.’s guarantee is done, I think he jumps to $40-something million that last year, and he’s going to be 34, 35, I think they release him.”
Harrison has been consistent in his take on Watt’s future with the team, which he articulated in his May 5th episode of his podcast.
“T.J. has a lot of guaranteed money left on his contract. T.J. has [2026] and [2027]. I don’t see him going anywhere unless they could potentially get something for him in a trade because I don’t see anybody taking a $42 million cap hit in each year…So, [2026] and [2027] is $42 million each, and that is fully guaranteed. Then, [2028], it’s not guaranteed, but he has a roster bonus that is due of $15 million on the third day of the new league year. I hate to say it, in all reality, I would see them releasing him in [2028], along with him being 34 at the time.”
TJ Watt is one of the best defensive players in the NFL, but an ex-Pro Bowl linebacker believes that the Steelers will one day release him. Former Steelers defensive stalwart James Harrison believes that, with Nick Herbig receiving a hefty extension, time will come where Pittsburgh will release Watt rather than pay him extra after his contract “Trading Highsmith is not going to happen because they just paid Herbig,” Harrison said on the June 9th edition of the Deebo and Joe podcast.