T.J. Watt

Edge Rusher

Age: 31
Free Agency: 2029 (UFA)
Accrued Seasons: 8
  • 2025 Salary Cap Charge: $23,368,695 (8.19% of cap)
  • 2025 Cash Payout: $44,000,000 (14.74% of spending)
  • 2025 Cash to Cap Ratio: 1.88
  • Contract Value: $123,000,000 ($41,000,000 APY)
  • Fully Guaranteed Money: $108,000,000
  • Contract Ranking: 3/243 at EDGE

Current Contract

(Extension, signed 2025)
(📝: indicates contract trigger occuring during that year)
YearAgeBase SalaryProrated Signing BonusRoster BonusGuaranteed SalaryCap
Number
Cap %
Dead Money & Cap Savings
202531$4,000,000$19,368,695$0$4,000,000$23,368,6958.2%
202632$32,000,000$10,000,000$0$32,000,000$42,000,00013.9%
202733$32,000,000$10,000,000$0$32,000,000$42,000,00013.5%
2028 📝
March 15: Roster bonus due
34$21,050,000$10,000,000$15,000,000$0$46,050,00014.1%
Total$89,050,000$49,368,695$15,000,000$68,000,000$153,418,695

Contract Notes

T.J. Watt signed a 3 year contract extension with the Pittsburgh Steelers worth $123.0 million with $108.0 million fully guaranteed at signing, including a $40.0 million signing bonus. Watt\'s salaries in 2025-2027 are fully guaranteed, and he is due to earn a $15.0 million roster bonus on the 3rd day of the 2028 league year. Initial details from ProFootball Talk

Cash Flows

- fully earned money
- unearned or partially earned money
$41M
$82M
$123M
2025202620272028
Cash Due$22,950,000$32,000,000$32,000,000$36,050,000
Running Cash$22,950,000$54,950,000$86,950,000$123,000,000
Career Earnings: $150,902,281
Career APY: $18,862,785
Potential Earnings: $254,952,281
Total Guarantees: $195,933,745
Largest Cash Payment: $44,000,000 (2025)
Largest Cap Number: $46,050,000 (2028)

Contract History

TeamContract TypeStatusYear SignedYrsTotalAPYGuaranteesAmount Earned% EarnedEffective APY
SteelersDraftedExtended20174$9,258,810$2,314,703$7,933,745$9,258,810100.0%$2,314,703
SteelersExtensionExtended20214$112,011,000$28,002,750$80,000,000$101,643,47190.7%$25,410,868
SteelersExtensionActive20253$123,000,000$41,000,000$108,000,000$40,000,00032.5%$0
Earnings By Team
TeamYrsSalaryAPYPaid on Cap% Paid on CapPaid as Dead Money% Paid as Dead Money
Steelers8$150,902,281$18,862,785$101,533,5860.0%$00.0%

Season History

YearTeamBase SalaryProrated BonusRoster BonusGuaranteed SalaryCap
Number
Cap %Cash Paid
2017Steelers$465,000$1,218,420$0$465,000$1,683,4201.0%$5,338,680
2018Steelers$885,855$1,218,420$0$885,855$2,104,2751.2%$885,855
2019Steelers$1,306,710$1,218,420$0$1,306,710$2,525,1301.2%$1,306,710
2020Steelers$1,727,565$1,218,420$0$402,500$2,945,9851.5%$1,727,565
2021Steelers$1,000,000$7,118,694$0$1,000,000$8,118,6944.3%$36,593,471
2022Steelers$15,000,000$9,368,694$0$15,000,000$24,368,69411.3%$24,000,000
2023Steelers$20,000,000$9,368,694$0$20,000,000$29,368,69412.8%$20,000,000
2024Steelers$21,050,000$9,368,694$0$0$30,418,69411.8%$21,050,000
2025Steelers$4,000,000$19,368,695$0$4,000,000$23,368,6958.2%$44,000,000
2026Steelers$32,000,000$10,000,000$0$32,000,000$42,000,00013.9%$32,000,000
2027Steelers$32,000,000$10,000,000$0$32,000,000$42,000,00013.5%$32,000,000
2028Steelers$21,050,000$10,000,000$15,000,000$0$46,050,00014.1%$36,050,000
Total$150,485,130$89,467,151$15,000,000$107,060,065$254,952,281$254,952,281

Statistics

YearGames PlayedGames InactiveSnapsTacklesNegative PlaysInterceptionsFumblesTD
InjuredHealthyDefenseSpecialSoloAssistSacksYardsTFLQB HitsPass Def.INTYardsForcedRec.Yards
2017151076.4%33.6%341263581071171000
2018160086.3%13.1%5018138712203006000
2019160086.5%13.3%352014.510414367278400
2020150183.1%9.8%431015112.523417102000
2021152065.0%6.5%481622.5111.521397005300
2022100047.2%7.3%27125.537.58125201000
2023170082.5%8.0%48201912219368104300
2024170085.9%8.3%402111.579.519274006200
202580081.0%6.0%13215286124102200

Valuation Diamond

The diamond is a scatterplot graph that visualizes the relation of the player's APY (in green) and performance (in blue, as measured by OTC's Valuations) to the rest of the league at his position. To understand how to read the diamond, read this explainer.

OTC ValuationAPY
Regular$30,418,000$41,000,000
Injury Adjusted$30,418,000$41,000,000
test
OTC Valuation $7.9M $15.7M $23.6M $31.5M $39.3M APY $7.8M $15.5M $23.3M $31M $38.8M $12,257,000 $11,040,000

Weekly Valuation Trends

The chart below illustrates the trend of the player's weekly OTC Valuations (in blue) from the most recent season, using APY (in green) and, if applicable, cash that is due to the player in the next season (in red) as benchmarks. Weeks not plotted indicate that the player was inactive or on a bye.

To see interactive and more in-depth use of OTC Valuation data, subscribe to OTC Premium.