Training camp has officially begun for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Following an offseason that featured a plethora of drama and ground shaking moves, the Steelers find themselves with one of the better defensive units in all of football entering the 2025 season. Pittsburgh signed superstar outside linebacker TJ Watt to a three-year extension most recently, as the veteran is now the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Instagram / @tjwatt90
Steelers' TJ Watt says bye to an away crowd after a game.
Watt has remained as a focal point on the Steelers' defense throughout his entire career, as the veteran is widely regarded as one of the best defensive players in all of football. Rumors have circulated around the superstar all throughout the offseason, as many believed the Steelers were having an issue reaching common ground with Watt regarding his extension. Watt didn't help in clearing up rumors on the situation either, as the veteran posted a picture of him holding up a peace sign earlier in the offseason, sending Steeler Nation into an absolute frenzy.
Watt took a moment to speak on his cryptic post from earlier in the offseason on Wednesday at training camp, as the All-Pro claims he knew exactly what he was doing.
"Sometimes, it's just fun to have fun with the narratives out there," Watt stated. "Obviously, I'm very in tune with negotiations and how things are going, but it's fun to see what you guys are all writing out there, thinking things are one way even though they are a completely different way."
Watt then went on to share the reasoning behind the post, as the generational linebacker claims it was strictly to have fun and to continue stirring the pot.
"Especially when it's earlier in the offseason, kind of just throwing something out there and see what happens, it stirs things up a lot more."
Watt's comments may be relieving for Steelers fans to hear, as there were multiple rumors and questions surrounding the linebacker's future in the weeks leading up to his extension. A seven-time Pro Bowler, Watt has been a crucial part of Pittsburgh's defense for a number of years and should face no problem thriving throughout 2025. Watt may be faced with a key role off the field as well, as the superstar will be an excellent mentor for younger members of the Steelers' defense like Derrick Harmon and Jack Sawyer.
Perry Knotts / Associated Press
The Pittsburgh Steelers select DL Derrick Harmon out of the University of Oregon with the 21st choice in the 2025 NFL Draft.
With an extension officially in place, many continue to wonder what took both sides so long to reach an agreement. Watt was rumored to be looking for the most guaranteed money he could possibly get, and the length of the contract appeared to also be an issue between both sides. The loss of a player of Watt's caliber would have been detrimental to the Steelers' defense, as the veteran is a generational talent who should continue to play at an elite level throughout the next four seasons in Pittsburgh.
Steelers May Add Depth To Defense In The Near Future
With the biggest moves of the offseason more than likely behind us, the Steelers are expected to turn their attention towards evaluating the depth on the roster throughout training camp. The team has been rumored to add depth at safety, as many feel like Pittsburgh is lacking a true starting option following the trade that sent veteran free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins.
Amazon Prime on NFL
Former Steelers All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick gets brutally stiff-armed by Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry during a tough playoff moment.
Superstar cornerback Jalen Ramsey may emerge as a legitimate option at free safety as well, as the veteran has been rumored to take snaps at the position throughout the course of training camp. Ramsey, a seven-time Pro Bowler, is an elite cornerback who is widely considered to be a top defensive talent in all of football. The Steelers currently have Juan Thornhill as their starting free safety entering 2025, but the team will more than likely add depth in the near future due to Thornhill's inconsistency and recent injury history.
With Watt officially under contract for the next four seasons, the team is expected to turn their full attention towards preparing for the start of the regular season. General Manager Omar Khan and his staff are expected to have a better understanding as to where the depth at safety stands as training camp goes on, as well as their first look at Watt re-joining the team for the first time this offseason.
#SteelerNation
