It’s no secret that Pittsburgh Steelers running back TJ Watt has had back-to-back losing seasons by his standards.
After leading the NFL with 19 sacks in 2023, Watt had 18.5 sacks combined in 2024 and 2025, recording just seven sacks last season after signing a $123 million extension.
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This has led many to wonder if the Steelers could move on from the former Defensive Player of the Year. And while it’s unlikely to happen this year, James Harrison believes it will happen at some point down the road.
“TJ has a lot of guaranteed money left on his contract,” Harrison said in Deebo and Joe. “TJ has (20260 and (2027). I don’t see him going anywhere unless they can get something for him in a trade because I don’t see anyone taking a $42 million cap hit every year… So, I hate to say it, actually, I would see them releasing him in (2028), plus he was 34 at the time.”
The Steelers would eat a staggering $94 million in dead cap if they release Watt in 2026. That number drops to $52 million in 2027, and then down to $10 million in 2028.
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