The Steelers announced Tuesday they have officially exercised the fifth-year option for LB T.J. Watt.
This move was widely expected, as Watt has established himself as one of the NFL’s best young pass rushers.
We have exercised LB T.J. Watt’s fifth-year option from his rookie contract.@BordasLaw TRANSACTION: https://t.co/64OEsaDDFG pic.twitter.com/Ribgmq4MMc
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 28, 2020
The option gives Watt the average of the 3rd through 25th highest salaries at his position in 2021 and is guaranteed for injury only until the start of that league year.
There’s also a chance Pittsburgh works out an extension for Watt relatively soon.
Watt, 25, is a former first-round pick of the Steelers back in 2017. He’s entering the fourth year of his four-year, $9.258 million contract and stands to make a base salary of $1.72 million in 2020.
In 2019, Watt appeared in all 16 games for the Steelers and recorded 55 tackles, 14.5 sacks, two interceptions, eight forced fumbles, four recoveries and eight pass defenses.
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