T.J. Watt is missing from the Steelers’ offseason activities, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. The face of Pittsburgh’s defense skipped voluntary OTAs and recently didn’t report to the team’s mandatory minicamp-something fans and analysts alike are watching closely.
But while some interpret the absence as a power play for a record-setting payday, not everyone is convinced Watt is chasing a Myles Garrett- or Micah Parsons-type deal. In fact, there’s growing belief this holdout is about something else entirely: stability.
Steelers insider Mark Kaboly believes Watt isn’t fixated on topping anyone’s contract numbers. “I don’t think he’s focused on Parsons, because I don’t even view those two as playing the same position,” Kaboly told The Athletic. “I think he’s looking more for guaranteed money and long-term security. If he gets paid more than Garrett by a buck, so be it.”
It’s a refreshing take in a league often driven by headlines about who’s the next highest-paid. Watt, it seems, is less concerned with status and more focused on smart business. His career speaks for itself-four All-Pro selections, a Defensive Player of the Year award, and over 85 career sacks since being drafted in 2017. He knows his worth, but he’s not trying to win a contract arms race.
Inside the Holdout: Not Just About the Money
Watt’s brother, J.J. Watt, recently commented that the deal “could’ve got done earlier.” But Kaboly pushed back on the urgency.“Who cares if it’s now, later, or even right before Week 1? As long as the number feels right, that’s what matters,” he said.
There’s also the fine: $104,768 for missing mandatory minicamp. Yet according to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo, the Steelers are expected to waive it once Watt signs a new deal. That small but important detail points to a franchise that still values Watt highly-and may even be quietly backing him in this negotiation.
Meanwhile, the league continues to buzz around Micah Parsons’ looming contract and Myles Garrett’s $125 million precedent. But Watt isn’t angling to one-up them. He just wants his next deal to reflect his impact-and his future.
For now, he’s holding out. Not for headlines, but for something solid.
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