T.J. Watt

Edge Rusher

Age: 30
Free Agency: 2026 (UFA)
Accrued Seasons: 7
  • 2024 Salary Cap Charge: $30,418,694 (11.84% of cap)
  • 2024 Cash Payout: $21,050,000 (10.86% of spending)
  • 2024 Cash to Cap Ratio: 0.69
  • Contract Value: $112,011,000 ($28,002,750 APY)
  • Fully Guaranteed Money: $80,000,000
  • Contract Ranking: 3/234 at EDGE

Current Contract

(Extension, signed 2021)
(📝: indicates contract trigger occuring during that year)
YearAgeBase SalaryProrated Signing BonusGuaranteed SalaryCap
Number
Cap %
Dead Money & Cap Savings
202127$1,000,000$7,118,694$1,000,000$8,118,6944.3%
202228$15,000,000$9,368,694$15,000,000$24,368,69411.3%
202329$20,000,000$9,368,694$20,000,000$29,368,69412.8%
202430$21,050,000$9,368,694$0$30,418,69411.8%
202531$21,050,000$9,368,694$0$30,418,69511.7%
Total$78,100,000$44,593,470$36,000,000$122,693,471

Contract Notes

T.J. Watt signed a 4 year contract worth $9,258,810 with the Steelers on June 14, 2017. Watt received a guarantee worth $7,933,745 including a $4,873,680 signing bonus. Watt's first three years are guaranteed and he has a partial 4th year guarantee. Please cite OTC as your source and provide a link to this page if using this information.

Cash Flows

- old money
- fully earned money
- unearned or partially earned money
$28M
$56M
$84M
$112M
Old Money20212022202320242025
Cash Due$11,000$25,911,000$24,000,000$20,000,000$21,050,000$21,039,000
Running Cash$25,922,000$49,922,000$69,922,000$90,972,000$112,011,000
Career Earnings: $89,852,281
Career APY: $12,836,040
Potential Earnings: $131,941,281
Total Guarantees: $87,933,745
Largest Cash Payment: $36,593,471 (2021)
Largest Cap Number: $30,418,695 (2025)

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
SteelersExtensionActive20214$112,011,000$28,002,750$80,000,000$80,593,47172.0%$26,864,490
Earnings By Team
TeamYrsSalaryAPYPaid on Cap% Paid on CapPaid as Dead Money% Paid as Dead Money
Steelers7$89,852,281$12,836,040$71,114,8920.0%$00.0%

Season History

YearTeamBase SalaryProrated BonusGuaranteed SalaryCap
Number
Cap %Cash Paid
2017Steelers$465,000$1,218,420$465,000$1,683,4201.0%$5,338,680
2018Steelers$885,855$1,218,420$885,855$2,104,2751.2%$885,855
2019Steelers$1,306,710$1,218,420$1,306,710$2,525,1301.2%$1,306,710
2020Steelers$1,727,565$1,218,420$402,500$2,945,9851.5%$1,727,565
2021Steelers$1,000,000$7,118,694$1,000,000$8,118,6944.3%$36,593,471
2022Steelers$15,000,000$9,368,694$15,000,000$24,368,69411.3%$24,000,000
2023Steelers$20,000,000$9,368,694$20,000,000$29,368,69412.8%$20,000,000
2024Steelers$21,050,000$9,368,694$0$30,418,69411.8%$21,050,000
2025Steelers$21,050,000$9,368,694$0$30,418,69511.7%$21,039,000
Total$82,485,130$49,467,150$39,060,065$131,952,281$131,941,281

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

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$33,518,000$28,002,750
Injury Adjusted$33,518,000$28,002,750
test
OTC Valuation $5.9M $11.7M $17.6M $23.5M $29.4M APY $5.7M $11.3M $17M $22.7M $28.3M $11,201,000 $10,000,000

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.