A Wednesday report indicated that the Pittsburgh Steelers plan to have both T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith on their roster at the start of the 2026 NFL season, even though the club signed fellow pass-rusher Nick Herbig to a four-year, $100M extension that included $42M guaranteed.
During a Thursday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport touched upon the futures of Highsmith and Watt.
Steelers plan on keeping both T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith
“What are they gonna do with T.J.? What are they gonna do with Highsmith? My sense [for] this year is nothing,” Rapoport explained. “I don’t get the sense that Highsmith is going anywhere. …T.J. Watt is not going anywhere this year. He is not. He is going to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
The Steelers have a win-now player serving as their starting quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, a 42-year-old who is on a team-friendly one-year contract. Thus, Pittsburgh has the ability to spend money at other premium positions through 2026.
Meanwhile, Watt and the Steelers agreed to a three-year, $123M deal that included $108M guaranteed last summer. It’s thought the money attached to that contract could make it difficult for Pittsburgh to trade Watt if the club truly wanted to move him, in part because he may be viewed as a declining asset.
When Steelers could make difficult T.J. Watt decision
“After this year,” Rapoport continued while speaking about Watt, “I would imagine [the Steelers] have a decision to make one way or the other. T.J. Watt’s contract is enormous. He has been a one-helmet player. …We have learned, as we did this past week, that there is a price for everyone, so we’ll see where that goes.”
Watt has played only for the Steelers since they selected him in the first round of the 2017 draft. That said, the Cleveland Browns received a 2027 first-round draft pick, a 2028 second-round pick, a conditional 2029 third-round choice and edge-rusher Jared Verse from the Los Angeles Rams for star pass-rusher
Myles Garrett.
Watt likely isn’t worth anything close to that package, but it nevertheless sounds like the Steelers could accept calls about his availability early next year.