The cat is out of the bag ... because a certain cat wants a bag full of money.
T.J. Watt and the Pittsburgh Steelers are at odds over which direction their contract negotiations should go.
Does Watt deserve a contract extension? Fine.
At age 31, should the Steelers be happy to break the bank over a long-term contract? Less than fine.
The superstar edge rusher and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year is entering the final season of his deal in 2025 and has been holding out as he is seeking an extension from the team.
A fair number is certainly over $30 million APY. But Watt's reported demand blows that number out of the water.
During an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show on Tuesday, insider Gerry Dulac said that Watt wants nothing less than to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL history.
"The stalemate is going to be that T.J. Watt wants to be the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league,"Dulac said.
Oh.
Ja'Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals is currently the highest-paid non-quarterback in football at about $40 million per year. Cleveland Browns edge Myles Garrett is in that same range.
That means Watt is seeking a deal worth over $40 million annually.
Dulac mentioned that the Steelers might want to do a deal for five years (though we're not sure of the logic there given that Watt is 31) ... and then theorized that the total contract number would exceed $200 million.
In the court of public opinion? Watt is beloved here ... but as the seven-time Pro Bowler is coming off a less-than-incredible year, Steelers fans might find that to be excessive.
In the end, do we think the Steelers and Watt can strike an agreement on an extension soon? Yes. But the idea of being the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history might've just cast a bit of a dark cloud over that belief.