T.J. Watt

Pittsburgh Steelers, Outside Linebacker
Age: 30y-4m-2d (Oct 11, 1994)
Exp: 7 Years
Country: US
College: Wisconsin
Drafted: Round 1 (#30 overall), 2017
Agent(s): John Caplin, Patrick Collins, Tom Condon, RJ Gonser, Jimmy Sexton (CAA Football)
2025 Cap Hit

$30,418,694

2025 Cash

$21,050,000

Career Earnings

$110,902,038

2021-2025 Rookie Extension (CURRENT)

T.J. Watt signed a 4 year, $112,011,000 contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, including $35,593,470 signing bonus, $80,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $28,002,750. In 2025, Watt will earn a base salary of $21,050,000, while carrying a cap hit of $30,418,694 and a dead cap value of $9,368,694.
Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $112,011,000
Average Salary:
$28,002,750
Signing Bonus:
$35,593,470
GTD at Sign:
$80,000,000
Total GTD:
$80,000,000
Free Agent:
2026 / UFA
MANAGE CONTRACT
Year Age Cap HitAnnual Cap % League Cap Cash Annual Cash Cumulative Dead Cap Annual
2021 27 $8,118,694 4.45% $36,593,470 $36,593,470 $80,593,470
2022 28 $24,368,694 11.70% $24,000,000 $60,593,470 $72,474,776
2023 29 $29,368,694 13.06% $20,000,000 $80,593,470 $48,106,082
2024 30 $30,418,694 11.91% $21,050,000 $101,643,470 $18,737,388
2025 31 $30,418,694 11.06% $21,050,000 $122,693,470 $9,368,694
2026 32
UFA
Year Age Base P5 Salary Signing Proration Restructure Proration Cap Hit Cap % League Cap Dead Cap
2021 27 $1,000,000 $7,118,694 - $8,118,694 4.45% $80,593,470
2022 28 $15,000,000 $7,118,694 $2,250,000 $24,368,694 11.70% $72,474,776
2023 29 $20,000,000 $7,118,694 $2,250,000 $29,368,694 13.06% $48,106,082
2024 30 $21,050,000 $7,118,694 $2,250,000 $30,418,694 11.91% $18,737,388
2025 31 $21,050,000 $7,118,694 $2,250,000 $30,418,694 11.06% $9,368,694
2026 32
UFA
Year Age Base P5 Salary Signing Bonus Restructure Bonus Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining
2021 27 $1,000,000 $35,593,470 - $36,593,470 $36,593,470 $122,693,470
2022 28 $15,000,000 - $9,000,000 $24,000,000 $60,593,470 $86,100,000
2023 29 $20,000,000 - - $20,000,000 $80,593,470 $62,100,000
2024 30 $21,050,000 - - $21,050,000 $101,643,470 $42,100,000
2025 31 $21,050,000 - - $21,050,000 $122,693,470 $21,050,000
Contract Notes
  • $80M guaranteed (signing bonus + 2021 salary + 2022 salary + 2023 salary)
Source: Profootballtalk

2017-2021 Rookie

Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $9,258,568
Average Salary:
$2,314,642
Signing Bonus:
$4,873,504
GTD at Sign:
$9,258,568
Total GTD:
$9,258,568
Free Agent:
2022 / UFA
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Seasons

7 Years

Career Earnings thru 2025

$110,902,038

Earnings w/ Different Teams

1 team

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2017 23
Active
$5,338,504
$5,338,504
2018 24
Active
$885,844
$6,224,348
2019 25
Active
$1,306,688
$7,531,036
2020 26
Active
$1,727,532
$9,258,568
2021 27
Active
$36,593,470
$45,852,038
 All NFL (1st) DPOY
2022 28
Active
$24,000,000
$69,852,038
2023 29
Active
$20,000,000
$89,852,038
 Afc Pro Bowl:OLB All NFL (1st)
2024 30
Active
$21,050,000
$110,902,038
 Afc Pro Bowl:OLB All NFL (2nd)
Total      
$110,902,038
$110,902,038
2025 31
Active
$21,050,000
Total
$131,952,038

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
8 $61,435,064 $40,466,974 - $9,000,000 - - $110,902,038
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Workout Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2017
23
$465,000
$4,873,504
$5,338,504
$5,338,504
2018
24
$885,844
$885,844
$6,224,348
2019
25
$1,306,688
$1,306,688
$7,531,036
2020
26
$1,727,532
$1,727,532
$9,258,568
2021
27
$1,000,000
$35,593,470
$36,593,470
$45,852,038
2022
28
$15,000,000
$9,000,000
$24,000,000
$69,852,038
2023
29
$20,000,000
$20,000,000
$89,852,038
2024
30
$21,050,000
$21,050,000
$110,902,038
Total
$61,435,064
$40,466,974
$9,000,000
$110,902,038
$110,902,038
2025
31
$21,050,000
$21,050,000
Total
$82,485,064
$40,466,974
$9,000,000
$131,952,038

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
8 $61,435,064 $40,466,974 - $9,000,000 - - $110,902,038

Injuries

Year Weeks Reason
2022 PIT 2 - 9 Pectoral
2021 PIT 13 - 13 COVID-19
  • Nov 03, 2023 Fined $16,391 Roughing the Passer against Jacksonville (JAX)
  • Oct 13, 2023 Fined $13,659 Removing Helmet on the Field against Baltimore (BAL)
  • Oct 13, 2023 Fined $11,473 Hit to a defenseless receiver against Baltimore (BAL)
  • Dec 02, 2022 Fined $13,621 Obscene Gesture against Indianapolis (IND)
  • Sep 07, 2022 Converted $9M of 2022 salary into signing bonus, clearing $6.75M of cap with Pittsburgh (PIT)
  • Dec 12, 2021 Fined $10,300 Taunting against Minnesota (MIN)
  • Oct 22, 2021 Fined $10,815 Unsportsmanlike Conduct against Seattle (SEA)
  • Sep 09, 2021 Signed a 4 year $112.011 million contract extension with Pittsburgh (PIT)
  • Apr 28, 2020 Pittsburgh (PIT) exercised a $10.089 million 5th year option for 2021
  • Nov 22, 2019 Fined $3,507 Entering the field for a fight against Cleveland (CLE)
  • Oct 12, 2018 Fined $20,054 Roughing the Passer against Matt Ryan (ATL)
  • Jun 14, 2017 Signed a 4 year $9.25 million contract with Pittsburgh (PIT)
  • Apr 27, 2017 Drafted by Pittsburgh (PIT): Round 1 (#30 overall)

Fines

Date Reason Fine Amount
Nov 03, 2023 Roughing the Passer against Jacksonville (JAX) $16,391
Oct 13, 2023 Hit to a defenseless receiver against Baltimore (BAL) $11,473
Oct 13, 2023 Removing Helmet on the Field against Baltimore (BAL) $13,659
Dec 02, 2022 Obscene Gesture against Indianapolis (IND) $13,621
Dec 12, 2021 Taunting against Minnesota (MIN) $10,300
Oct 22, 2021 Unsportsmanlike Conduct against Seattle (SEA) $10,815
Nov 22, 2019 Entering the field for a fight against Cleveland (CLE) $3,507
Oct 12, 2018 Roughing the Passer against Matt Ryan (ATL) $20,054
Fines: 8 $99,820
Year Team GP GS Snaps Snaps% Sack Tackles Total Tackles Solo Tackles Assisted FFum Int
2024 PIT 17 17 938 85.90 12 61 40 21 6 0
2023 PIT 17 16 931 82.50 19 68 48 20 4 1
2022 PIT 10 10 502 82.70 6 39 27 12 1 2
2021 PIT 15 15 758 65.00 23 64 48 16 5 0
2020 PIT 15 15 856 83.80 15 53 43 10 1 1
2019 PIT 16 16 957 86.80 15 55 35 20 8 2
2018 PIT 16 16 902 86.80 13 68 50 18 6 0
2017 PIT 15 15 752 76.50 7 54 40 14 1 1

Calculated Market Value

$30.1M Avg. Annual Salary

Market Value

  • 4 years, $120,285,912
  • Avg. Salary: $30,071,478
  • NFL Rank: 23
  • OLB Rank: 1

Current Contract

  • Free Agent: 2026
  • Avg. Salary: $28,002,750
  • NFL Rank: 31
  • OLB Rank: 3

Comparable Players

We've selected the following players based on their age, contract status, and statistical production to compare T.J. Watt to.

Player Length Value Avg. Salary Age When Signed
Joshua Hines-Allen 5 $141,250,000 $28,250,000 26
Brian Burns 5 $141,000,000 $28,200,000 25
Danielle Hunter 2 $49,000,000 $24,500,000 29
Nick Bosa 5 $170,000,000 $34,000,000 25
Averages 4 $125,312,500 $28,737,500 26.3

Base Calculated Value

After adjusting the above contracts as if signed at Watt's current age (30), a linear regression is performed, providing us with the following initial value.

Length Value Avg. Salary
4 $119,455,696 $29,863,924

Statistical Comparisons

Now we'll compare our variables and Watt statistically over the two seasons prior to their signing. In this case we're analyzing: GP%, Tackles/Gm, Sacks/Gm, Stops/Gm, Catch Rate/Yr, QB Hurries/Gm, Rating

Player GP% Tackles/Gm Sacks/Gm Stops/Gm Catch Rate/Yr QB Hurries/Gm Rating
Joshua Hines-Allen
2022-2023
 100.00 2.29 0.69 2.06 69.30 2.88 86.20
Brian Burns
2022-2023
 94.12 2.06 0.64 2.00 65.00 2.03 69.30
Danielle Hunter
2022-2023
 100.00 2.94 0.79 2.65 100.00 3.00 82.15
Nick Bosa
2021-2022
 97.06 2.45 1.03 2.36 0.00 2.52 90.05
Average 97.80 2.44 0.79 2.27 58.58 2.61 81.93
T.J. Watt
2023-2024
 100.00 2.59 0.90 2.59 95.00 2.09 92.05
Pct Change 2.25 6.15 13.92 14.10 -62.17 -19.92 12.35
Median Prime % Change 6.15%
Average Prime % Change -4.76%

Calculated Market Value: T.J. Watt

After applying our Prime % figures into our base calculated value, we're given two values. The average of these values becomes our current calculated market value.

Terms Avg. Salary
4 years, $120,285,912 $30,071,478

FEATURED PLAYER NEWS

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2025 NFL Free Agency Primer

Spotrac has identified one player from each of the 32 teams set to become an unrestricted free agent next month, including projected market values and a few honorable mentions for each.

TRANSACTIONS

Nov 03, 2023
Fined $16,391 Roughing the Passer against Jacksonville (JAX)
Oct 13, 2023
Fined $13,659 Removing Helmet on the Field against Baltimore (BAL)
Oct 13, 2023
Fined $11,473 Hit to a defenseless receiver against Baltimore (BAL)
Dec 02, 2022
Fined $13,621 Obscene Gesture against Indianapolis (IND)
Sep 07, 2022
Converted $9M of 2022 salary into signing bonus, clearing $6.75M of cap with Pittsburgh (PIT)
Dec 12, 2021
Fined $10,300 Taunting against Minnesota (MIN)
Oct 22, 2021
Fined $10,815 Unsportsmanlike Conduct against Seattle (SEA)
Sep 09, 2021
Signed a 4 year $112.011 million contract extension with Pittsburgh (PIT)
Apr 28, 2020
Pittsburgh (PIT) exercised a $10.089 million 5th year option for 2021
Nov 22, 2019
Fined $3,507 Entering the field for a fight against Cleveland (CLE)
Oct 12, 2018
Fined $20,054 Roughing the Passer against Matt Ryan (ATL)
Jun 14, 2017
Signed a 4 year $9.25 million contract with Pittsburgh (PIT)
Apr 27, 2017
Drafted by Pittsburgh (PIT): Round 1 (#30 overall)

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