T.J. Watt needs to play better this season.
NFL analyst Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports believes T.J. Watt needs to play better this season for the Pittsburgh Steelers to have more success.
Watt appeared in 14 games for the Steelers last season. He finished with seven sacks, 23 solo tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 19 QB hits.
"It’s safe to say Pittsburgh expected more when it signed him to a three-year, $123 million extension last July," Vacchiano wrote. "So he really needs to show that his two-year statistical decline isn’t irreversible even though he’ll be 32 in October. Last season, his sack total was still the third-highest on the team. Imagine how potent the pass rush could be if Watt — who had 19 sacks in 2023 and 11.5 in 2024 — gets anywhere near his old form.
"The Steelers need that from the eight-time Pro Bowler. They know their quarterback will need as much support as he can get. Backing him with an aggressive, disruptive defense, preferably led by Watt, might be the best thing they could do to help Aaron Rodgers out."
The Steelers signed Watt to a three-year, $123 million contract in 2025, with $108 million guaranteed. Watt turns 32 in October and has guaranteed salaries of $32 million in both 2026 and 2027.
Watt has spent his entire NFL career in Pittsburgh. He enters next season with 115 sacks, 354 solo tackles, 136 tackles for loss and 244 QB hits. He's made eight Pro Bowls and four All-Pro selections and won the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year Award.
However, the Steelers are 0-5 in the playoffs in the Watt era. So even though Watt has put up incredible numbers, he hasn't helped Pittsburgh win a postseason game.
NFL scouts for Bleacher Report ranked Watt 41st-best among defensive players in the league.
Watt is one spot ahead of Devin Lloyd of the Carolina Panthers and one spot behind Zack Braun of the Philadelphia Eagles.
"A gold jacket is waiting for T.J. Watt whenever he decides to hang up his cleats," Bleacher Report wrote. "However, the future Hall of Famer's production dipped last season, as he isn't the same player he used to be. Watt can still win on the high side of the rush but lacks a good change-up to keep offensive tackles honest. At this stage of his career, Watt is also more of a finesse player against the run."
The Steelers open the 2026 season against the Atlanta Falcons.
Let's see if Watt can shut his critics up by racking up some sacks and tackles in that game.
