TJ Watt

NorthernBlitz · Jan 19, 2026 at 2:37 PM

Born2Steel said: ↑

Why are we trading/retiring Watt again?
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We aren't.

Ytownsteeler · Jan 19, 2026 at 2:53 PM

Tj was amazing but no d player sis worth as much as he makes. We spend too
Much on defense and they don’t stop anyone with a pulse. Bad gm and owner. Roster design is a joke and reason we suck on offense. Odd we are #1 spending on d and no where near best d on league.

Chinchilla · Jan 19, 2026 at 3:01 PM

Captain Lemming said: ↑

I dont know. I think he lost something big time. Old man Cam looks closer to his peak than TJ. I wonder if TJ feels his best days are behind him. If so, he might well hang it up and collect that hit.
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I wonder if its crazy talk to have Cam play nose tackle for a year or two which at the very least he can use his leverage to push and disrupt. Something I wish Dan McCullers did. Just blow up and occupy the center or two guys if the Oline played zone blocking.

Chinchilla · Jan 19, 2026 at 3:01 PM

Captain Lemming said: ↑

I dont know. I think he lost something big time. Old man Cam looks closer to his peak than TJ. I wonder if TJ feels his best days are behind him. If so, he might well hang it up and collect that hit.
Click to expand...

I wonder if its crazy talk to have Cam play nose tackle for a year or two which at the very least he can use his leverage to push and disrupt. Something I wish Dan McCullers did. Just blow up and occupy the center or two guys if the Oline played zone blocking.

Thor · Jan 19, 2026 at 10:32 PM

Mashburn said: ↑

1. Steelers could recover the remaining prorated signing bonus. (just like the Lions did with Calving Johnson. to which they did and won)

2. The signing bonus money already paid still hits the cap. So the remaining prorated bonus on Watt’s deal would Accelerate into the cap all at once, unless the Steelers process the retirement after June 1, which would be
Year 1: Only 1 year of prorated bonus hits.
Year 2: The rest hits.

3. we owe no future money

4. if he un-retires, it would be just like a Gronk/Brady situations. where when he comes back, it starts again and we have the decision to play him, trade him, or renegotiate the contract.

IF he retires, than it would be roughly 25 million cap hit for 2026. So we would get 15 million in cap savings (because he was to have a 42 million cap hit)

If he retires post June first, Then we take on a 13 million cap hit for 2026 and 2027, but with his contract of 42 million in each. then it is about 29 million in cap savings each year.

If we do the clawback (asking for the prorated bonus back), it will not help us in savings. but we could try asking the shield to help us, but that is not going to happen.

@Thor am I right or wrong?
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1. Yep, the Barry Sanders rule.

2. Mostly right - if the team wins arbitration for recouping a portion of the signing bonus, that amount is returned to their cap.

3. True, all base salary (guaranteed or not), roster bonuses, etc. are forfeited with a retirement.

4. If the team wins the arbitration case, that money would be returned to their cap. That said, as the contract currently stands the org would take on $30M in dead money while saving $12M to their 2026 cap if labeled a pre-June 1st transaction; a post-June 1st designation would result in $10M of dead money and $32M returned to their cap in 2026, and $20M in dead money and $22M in savings in 2027.

Steelvision · Jan 19, 2026 at 11:36 PM

Stats tell a pretty consistent story on edge rushers, they're production starts declining when they hit 30-31. You can look at LT, Mark Gasteneau, now TJ, story is pretty much the same

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TJ Watt

NorthernBlitz Well-Known Member

Ytownsteeler Well-Known Member

Chinchilla Well-Known Member

Chinchilla Well-Known Member

Thor Staff Member Mod Team TSF Supporter

Steelvision Well-Known Member

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