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Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro pass rusher T.J. Watt is absent from the team's mandatory minicamp this week amid his request for a new contract, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday (June 10).
Watt, 30, is entering the final year of his current deal with the Steelers and had previously missed the team's voluntary OTAs earlier in the offseason. The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year would be subject to an estimated $105,000 in fines if he misses all three days of minicamp, which opened on Tuesday.
Watt previously signed a four-year, $112 million deal in 2021, which included an estimated annual salary of $28 million. The pass rusher market, however, reset this offseason after Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett signed a new deal that averages $40 million annually and includes $123.5 million in guaranteed money, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Watt hasn't spoken publicly since the Steelers' 2024 season ended, but was speculated to have shown frustration over the ongoing negotiations when he shared a photo of himself flashing a peace sign in a Steelers jersey to his Instagram story in April. The Steelers have appeared to be optimistic that a new deal would get done with general manager Omar Khan telling reporters he was "very hopeful T.J. will finish his career as a Steeler" in March via ESPN.