"He’s gonna take them to the cleaners" - Colin Cowherd warns T.J. Watt’s potential massive paycheck won’t fix Steelers’ struggles

T.J. Watt and the Pittsburgh Steelers are in a contractual standoff. The perennial Pro Bowler has skipped the start of mandatory minicamp as he seeks a new contract from the Steelers.

T.J. Watt's absence has raised concern among Steelers fans as the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year is one of the team's most important players. With the Steelers looking to reach an agreement with Watt, NFL analyst Colin Cowherd has issued a warning to Mike Tomlin's side. Speaking on 'The Herd,' Cowherd said:

"He's gonna get whatever he wants right now. The Steelers lead the NFL in defensive spending and that's pre-T. J. Watt contract. He's gonna get 40 to 47 million large per year.

"Okay, you want to know the two teams in the NFL going into this season with the lowest defensive spending? The Eagles and the Rams — both in the Super Bowl bubble. Yeah, Kansas City."

The veteran analyst continued:

"Six of the top seven contracts for Kansas City and their well-run front office are offense. Eagles, eight for eight of their biggest contracts are offense."

He concluded by saying:

"The Steelers? All five big contracts — five biggest — all defense, and that's pre-TJ Watt deal. He knows he has everybody in town own the jersey. The Rooneys don't want backlash. Tomlin was a defensive guy — He's gonna take them to the cleaners. So it's about this."

Cowherd believes that paying T.J. Watt huge money will only paper over the existing cracks on the Steelers roster. Furthermore, the major Super Bowl contenders prioritize the other side of the ball.

The Herd host sees the Pittsburgh Steelers paying Watt the big bucks to remain on the roster. However, such a move might affect them in the long run, especially with their Super Bowl aspirations.

What's next for T.J. Watt?

According to AP News, T.J. Watt skipped the start of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. This move indicates his feelings within the building and his desire for a new contract in the lead-up to the 2025 regular season.

T.J. Watt has spent all eight years of his professional football career in Pittsburgh, and he's recorded seven successive Pro Bowl nods. Furthermore, the Wisconsin Badgers product won the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year Award after posting a career high in sacks and leading the league in quarterback hits.

Watt is seeking a new deal in Pittsburgh that'll better reflect his status as one of the best linebackers in football. The Steelers will hope to reach a compromise with the 2024 NFL forced fumbles leader before the start of the preseason.