NFL insider James Palmer believes there's a good chance that Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt will break Myles Garrett 's record deal.
Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt is due for a massive payday as he's entering the final year of his contract. NFL insider James Palmer believes there's a good chance Watt will surpass AFC North rival Myles Garrett's record-breaking deal .
"I'm hearing there's a chance Watt gets past $40 [million per season]," Palmer said on Bleacher Report's "NFL Insider Notebook." "He has every right to ask for it. I've talked on here a lot about the comparisons between him and Myles Garrett. The numbers are almost identical in every aspect in terms of superlatives and in terms of numbers, and they came in the same draft class. I mean, he has every right to try to get that."
The Browns made Garrett the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history this offseason by giving him a contract extension that pays him $40 million per year. Meanwhile, Watt is scheduled to earn just $21.05 million in salary in 2025, none of which is guaranteed.
Watt is coming off the least-productive full season of his NFL career, but he still proved to be a difference maker while recording 11.5 sacks and a league-leading six forced fumbles.
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt hits Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow in a game on Dec. 1, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
However, Garrett had a very comparable 14-sack campaign last year. He also recorded three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Since entering the league in 2017, Watt has 108 sacks, 33 forced fumbles, 12 fumble recoveries, seven interceptions and 50 passes defensed.
During that same span, Garrett has 102.5 sacks, 20 forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and 17 passes defensed.
So it seems like it's only a matter of time until the Steelers give Watt the payday he's looking for and make him the new highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Insider: T.J. Watt Will Exceed Myles Garrett's Record-Breaking Deal
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