TJ Watt

Yeah Yeah Yeah and many said Cam was done two years ago. You don't know for sure.

 

Heyward isn't an edge rusher. They have completely different skill sets. Heyward can rely on power and experience to make up for any lost quickness or agility. That doesn't work as well for an edge rusher.

 

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?

 

Only other thing that could take place is he request a trade.

if a team wants him I think it will be like a von miller situation of a second and a third.
- Von was playing ok Denver, but not elite like he was.
- Von averaged 0.64 sacks before the trade.
- TJ averaged 0.46 sacks this season.
- Von 32 years old
- TJ will be 32 in October.
- Also Von contract was the most at the time of the trade and the rams decreased it.

 

I believe we'd eat that bonus dead cap, so the team acquiring him would actually be getting him at a somewhat reasoanble contract, but I could be wrong. The acquiring team would only be on the hook for what remains, not the giant bonus we gave him.

So, I think trading him will not be very difficult. The return may not be anything substantial though.

MAYBE Jerry Jones will overpay, give us a 1st or a 2nd for Watt, given he traded away his stud OLB and had very little pash rush or defense since.

Dallas makes a ton of sense.

 

There are AlWAYS stupid owners out there and the Watt name is BIG TIME. Some clueless owner will be wetting himself at the chance of praying TJ Watt away. I am not worried about trading him if we want to trade him. I just don't see Rooney wanting that. Watt would have to demand it and I think he'll come to his senses. A trade means he won't be playing for Tomlin on the other team either.

 

I agree with you..... but Von Miller proved this exact situation.

 

The contract was a dumb move by the FO. Not getting a 2nd starting WR was incompetence. Until the Steelers get a real QB, they should trade players like TJ Watt to secure additional 1st Rd picks increasing their chances of selecting one of the top 1st Rd QBs.