PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s the reason a number of NFL players this offseason agreed to one year contracts, including JuJu Smith-Schuster. The expectation of the salary cap rising dramatically in 2022.
“We think we know where the cap will go,” said Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert on Tuesday. “We are hopeful that it does (go up significantly). Can we make certain players fit within that group? We always will do a deal based on what it does for us in 2021 and what it will do to us down the road.”
Front and center with those needing new contracts is linebacker TJ Watt. The All-Pro is playing under the final year of his rookie contract in 2021 and coming off an amazing season of 15 sacks in 15 games with 23 tackles for loss and 41 quarterback hits.
Colbert would not address questions directly about Watt’s contract situation saying they don’t discuss individual negotiations publicly. The couple decade Steelers boss did at least let us know there is interest.
“We know we want to keep good players, will see how it goes as the rest of the summer unfolds,” Colbert said.
Penn Hills grad, Pitt star Aaron Donald was the only player to beat out Watt for NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2020. Donald signed a 6-year, $135 million contract averaging out to $22.5 million in average annual salary. Chicago’s Khalil Mack makes $23.5 million in average salary. Defensive ends Joey Bosa, Chargers, makes $27 million and Cleveland’s Myles Garrett $25 million.
While Watt says he’s leaving his contract situation up to his agents. There are reports he not only wants to be the highest paid pass rusher, but wants to set the market.
As mentioned Colbert says he has an idea of where the cap will be in 2022, but he doesn’t know for sure. All he knows right now is what the floor will be. The Steelers are probably already committed to floor money right now.
“It’s a completely different environment,” Colbert said. “We knew we were going to be up against the cap last year, when the pandemic hit and the cap went down. We were severely up against the cap and we had to make some tough decisions.”
Even with a likely rise in the cap, they have to make tough decisions every year. Even with a player Colbert described as ‘very good defensive player that has done everything other than win a championship’.
It’s not only what are the Steelers willing to pay for Watt, it’s what they can afford to pay. No doubt they want to sign him, but is there a number that works for both sides.
Colbert also said they will continue their policy of not negotiating when the season starts. That leaves weeks to get a deal done.