The ongoing saga of T.J. Watt vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers over a contract extension is moving into another stage. This time, as training camp is right around the corner, the question is, 'Will T.J. Watt participate in a holdout?' However, the expectation is that he will do what he did in 2021 when he was last in a contract dispute, and that's negotiate using a hold-in strategy.
A hold-in is essentially attending the mandatory training camp without participating in any drills. Standing on the sidelines with a "I'm here but not fully" sort of posture. It is a sign for many players to say, I want to play for this team, but I need a new deal.
This isn't the only chapter in this saga. There's also the fact that many league sources are reporting that teams would be interested in a trade for Watt if the Pittsburgh Steelers think they can't get a deal done. The vultures are starting to circle.
TJ Watt and Pittsburgh have still not reached a deal and vultures are circling
The former Badger is one of the top NFL players year after year, and while Pittsburgh fans are holding their breath to see how this all shakes out. Wisconsin fans are looking on with hope that Watt continues to get what he deserves, whether in trade or for the Steelers.
The hang-up seems to be that he had a slight dip in production at the end of last season. He had only 11.5 sacks as compared to the 19 the year before, and zero sacks in the final three games of the season. He also wasn't really all that effective in the one postseason game for the Steelers against the Baltimore Ravens.
However, Watt and others would tell you that he's due for a massive year in 2025 and is worth every penny. Other teams would be willing to test that theory out if the Steelers won't.