How are we feeling about the Watt contract?

[Buzz]

The fact that the HC truly thought that this year's defense would be "historically great" tells you what you need to know about where the main blame for the problem lies.

[Northern_Blitz]

So far, not great. Was hoping that drop in output would hold off until at least year 3. But the way the league is structured (both by cash & cap spending and by marketing) meant that there was ~ 0% chance that we didn't extend him. So arguing that we shouldn't do it was useless. Just like people thinking we'll fire Tomlin while he still has 2.5 seasons on his contract.

[Buzz]

I can't agree that we had no choice but to extend TJ. We could have traded him. We should have done so a couple of years ago, when the return value was at its peak, but I think we could've gotten a decent swap this past offseason, maybe a good draft pick. It's not smart to bind yourself to an aging defensive player. It may work out well occasionally, but most of the time, it's gonna hinder you somewhat down the road.

[Buzz]

I can't agree that we had no choice but to extend TJ. We could have traded him. We should have done so a couple of years ago, when his return value was at its peak, but I think we still could've gotten a decent swap this past offseason, maybe a good draft pick. It's not smart to bind yourself to an aging defensive player. It may work out well occasionally, but most of the time, it's gonna hinder you somewhat down the road.

[feltdizz]

We definitely had a choice but we usually sign players like Watt and let them retire a Steeler. Is it the best business move? Not sure.. I know its good for our bottom line to sign fan favorites but also have to wonder if we are missing out on a better roster construct if we moved players like Watt and Heyward when they had value.

[SteelCrazy]

TJ hasn’t declined with age. TJ is exactly who he’s been since he started sacking opposing teams quarterbacks father time may have caught up to him and he lost a millisecond, but that’s hardly the problem. TJ has one move. That’s wide left around the right tackle and speed gets him around the right tackle. However, teams figured out last year was seven games to go, but if you chip in with a tide in a running back, it totally breaks his stride and momentum coupled with QBs getting the ball out faster he’s just not gonna sniff the quarterback 20 times a season anymore. He’ll be lucky to get 12 sacks of season from this point forward. If you look at his sack fumble and recovery yesterday you’ll see he was one on one with the right tackle. As far back as I can remember from midseason last year, I don’t remember him beating a chip by the tight end or running back and block by the right tackle and getting a sack. Sometimes he tries to go in the A and B gaps, but it’s hardly a move. In the off-season, he should be working on twisting to the right away from the running back and TE and go to the inside of the right tackle, but he’s never tried that I can remember. I was hoping that they traded him for a first round pick to anybody that would give it up which I’m sure they would’ve. We might’ve been able to get two if we got lucky. But we’re stuck with him for the next 2 1/2 years. Unless somebody wants to take on his contract and give us a first round pick which I’m sure there’s not many takers for that deal.

[Northern_Blitz]

"We" did not have a choice. "Rooney" had a choice. And there was a 0% chance that he was going to make a choice that was different than the one he made. Particularly given the new cash spending requirements in the league. We weren't going to let Watt go and then spend the same amount of cash on a player who didn't grow up in our system who would also be old. Maybe one contract younger than Watt though, which would be good. Maybe we'd do it for Parsons. But (1) that happened after Watt and the option for the trade wasn't open then and (2) Parsons contract is $5.5MM more than Watt's. Hard to imagine people not complaining about making that move IMO. But even without the pressure from the league to spend cash like this we would have signed Watt. He's the face of the franchise. We also are against rebuilding. It was a fun topic to discuss on the internet, but there was a 0% chance of use flipping him for picks. Just like there's a 0% chance Rooney fires Tomlin and pays him $40MM+ over the next 2.5 seasons to not work.

[SteelCrazy]

I was wondering why we signed Metcalf to a huge contract like we did which seemed odd for the Steelers. I was unaware of a league minimum in spending. My take on TJ remains the same. He needs to learn how to beat a chip. A new move or two would be awesome as well. Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

[Northern_Blitz]

Crazy: The cash spending news are pretty new. I think it's something like teams have to spend at least 90% (?) of the cap in set 3 year periods. And I think the league encourages them to be a bit more than that. I agree that was a big part of signing Metcalf. While I think he's a good player, it's pretty rare for the Steelers to pony up big guaranteed money for outside UFAs. But since we've been bad at drafting impact players, it became necessary because we didn't have players of our own who deserved the money.

[Dog chasing Cat]

Saying that were bad at drafting impact players..............do you think we need a better general manager?