The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering the offseason with several questions surrounding their roster, and one of the most intriguing positions to watch is outside linebacker. T.J. Watt, the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is entering the final year of his contract, and his future with the team is uncertain.
Watt’s production on the field has been impressive, with 111⁄2 sacks and six forced fumbles in the 2024 season. However, he was held without a sack in the final four games, including the playoffs, and the Steelers ended the season with five consecutive losses.
Given the way Watt was schemed out of games, he may need to move around the defense to increase his production. Watt is open to the idea of lining up at various spots, saying, “I prefer the left, but at this point in my career, I want to be an impact player. I don’t want to be schemed out of games.”
The Steelers have a significant amount of money allocated to the outside linebacker position, with Watt’s $21.05 million base salary and Alex Highsmith’s $13 million salary. Highsmith, who was limited to 11 games due to injuries, totaled six sacks and has three years left on his contract.
Veteran Preston Smith, who was acquired at the trade deadline, contributed two sacks in eight games but was inactive for the Christmas game against Kansas City and didn’t get a helmet against the Ravens in the playoffs. Smith, who is 32, has a $13.4 million cap hit for 2025, making him a prime candidate to be cut in March.
Nick Herbig, who showed he is ready to take on a bigger role at the position, chipped in a career-high 51⁄2 sacks and four forced fumbles in 13 games. Herbig has two years remaining on his rookie contract, rounding out the Steelers’ nucleus if the organization wants to keep its trio of pass rushers intact.
As the Steelers enter the offseason, they will need to make some tough decisions about their outside linebacker position. With Watt’s contract situation and the team’s salary cap constraints, it’s possible that the Steelers could explore trading Watt or restructuring his contract.
However, if the Steelers decide to keep Watt, they may need to get creative with their defensive scheme to maximize his production. Watt’s willingness to move around the defense and line up at various spots could be a key factor in the Steelers’ success in the 2025 season.
Ultimately, the Steelers’ outside linebacker position will be one to watch in the offseason, as the team navigates the complexities of the salary cap and tries to build a roster that can compete for a championship.
Under contract:
T.J. Watt ($30.418 million cap hit)
Alex Highsmith ($18.602 million)
Preston Smith ($13.4 million)
Nick Herbig ($1.198 million)
Eku Leota ($1.03 million)
Thomas Rush ($840,000)
Julius Welschof ($840,000)
Impending free agents: None
Exclusive rights free agent: Jeremiah Moon
Outside perspective: Pro Football Network, on salary cap cut possibilities: “The Steelers have over $40 million in cap space, but they do not currently have a firm plan at quarterback, and they have other holes on their roster. With T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith entrenched as starters at outside linebacker, (Preston) Smith is a luxury they can afford to cut and re-invest elsewhere.”
