After this season, however, the Steelers should find themselves in a very different cap situation since Roethlisberger`s contract is canceled after the season. This gave them the space to sign Watt for his contract. As the Steelers` self-imposed contract deadline for the season opener approached, negotiations continued in Week 1 as the two sides worked to find common ground for contractual guarantees. • Daily Coverage: The 9/11 story that inspired Tom Brady• 2021 NFL season: Predictions, expert advice and more• Preseason power rankings: #1 Chiefs, Packers on Bucs• Business of Football: 10 predictions for the 2021 season• Top 20 story lines for the 2021 NFL season Ben Roethlisberger voluntarily cut his salary from $19 million to $14 million in the final year of his contract, distributing cash payment by source until 2022. He lowered the cap by more than $15 million so the team could take the right steps to be as competitive as possible this season. The 26-year-old outside linebacker has agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Steelers worth $112 million. NFL Media`s Ian Rapoport reported that the deal includes an $80 million guarantee. Overtime begins in 2022, which means Pittsburgh can keep its best linebacker until 2025. Watt returned to training this week after “persevering” during training camp, a new direction for players looking for new contracts, while the new collective agreement provides for irrevocable fines for those who don`t show up. “He`s a guy who deserves more than this contract,” Steelers defensive captain Cam Heyward told ESPN Thursday afternoon. “It`s great to know that his future lies here in Pittsburgh.” Despite the high contract, the Steelers still have enough leeway under the salary cap for 2021: the deal ended an extended contract dispute between Watt and the Steelers.
Watt is playing this year on the $10.1 million team option that Pittsburgh exercised during the offseason. The Steelers faced a tight cap in 2020 and 2021, in part because of Roethlisberger`s contract, but they restructured his contract and released longtime right-handed guard David DeCastro outside of camp, freeing up space to sign experienced free agents and Watt for a mega-contract. USA TODAY SPORTS NFL PICK OF WEEK 1: Browns-Chiefs highlights the 2021 opening weekend schedule #Steelers often announce offers as renewals after retaining the current contract. It was a solid bet to expect a signing bonus in the range of $35 million to $40 million. That would put its cap around $17-18 million this year. Wouldn`t leave more than $2-3 million in space, but. adjustment as well as a glove. The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed a five-year contract with linebacker T.J. Watt, the team announced Friday.
On Thursday, several reports surfaced that the two sides agreed on a four-year, $112 million contract extension with an $80 million guarantee, making him the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL. “He`s probably the best football player in the game right now, not only defensively, but in general,” Roethlisberger said Wednesday. “I have conducted negotiations with contracts here. One of the reasons I took less money is because guys like him get paid and he has to get paid. The main problem was the release of Cap Space. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger agreed in March to cut his salary from $19 million to $14 million in the final year of his contract, which saved the Steelers about $15.3 million in space, ESPN`s Adam Schefter reported. The Steelers usually only guarantee the signing bonus, but not much else. However, throughout the contract period, the Steelers will generally restructure and later provide more guaranteed money and security, rather than right away. With the regular season fast approaching and Watt still in his hold-in (until a return to the field on Wednesday), contract negotiations have become a hot topic in recent weeks.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger asked for Watt to be paid Wednesday, and young defensive star Minkah Fitzpatrick said Thursday that he is monitoring Watt`s negotiations for his own future contract negotiations. The contract could lead to cap issues in the future, with Roethlisberger, Watt, Cameron Heyward, Stephon Tuitt and Minkah Fitzpatrick all holding at least a $10 million cap hit in 2022. Watt, 26, who was on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, which would have earned him about $10 million, had been a “hold-in” at training camp, reported but did not train. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that he was “optimistic” that the teams would agree to a long-term contract before the start of the season. Watt participated in training for the first time on Wednesday. Watt`s contract also surpasses that of Chicago Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack, who was previously the highest-paid player in that position with a six-year, $141 million contract signed in 2018. .