Two fingers up – peace sign, victory sign, call it whatever. But what does it really say? TJ Watt is fed up with Mike Tomlin’s Pittsburgh Steelers dragging their feet on his contract. Last month, he posted a pic flashing that emoji. Not because he got the deal he wanted, but because he didn’t. That post lit up the internet, leaving everyone wondering what it meant.
TJ Watt is heading into the final year of his deal, set to make around $30.4 million. Meanwhile, players like Myles Garrett have already cashed in, setting a new market for top defenders. Now, Watt wants his turn, especially after his seven Pro Bowl nods. And guess what? He’s aiming big – wants to be the highest-paid non-QB in the league. But here’s the problem: as per reports, the Steelers haven’t even started talks yet. That’s got people wondering – do they even plan to keep him peacefully?
And Watt is not the only thing Mike Tomlin has to worry about on defense. There’s more on that side of the football that needs serious attention. According to Big Ben in a new episode of Channel Seven, the Steelers need to draft some defensive men in this year’s NFL draft. He expressed, “The defense is here, but again it’s got to be a win now because what you have on defense isn’t going to last either. I think that they’ve got to try, and I said this last week, I think that D-line has got to be important in the draft.”
Why? Well, as per legend, Ben Roethlisberger, it’s “because you’ve got Cam Hayward, who played lights out last year. But is he going to be (like) how many more years does he have lights out, and TJ is still TJ.” On the other hand, Mike Tomlin has Alex Highsmith too. But what matters is the depth. And that’s why the former QB is looking straight at the draft.
Roethlisberger stressed it again – the D-line has to be a priority. According to him, you can’t keep depending on aging stars without building for the future. And then he brought up something that really hit home. He recalled that the team gave up 200 rushing yards, so that’s not the Steeler way. Not back when Roethlisberger played. Not during those classic “Steel Curtain” years either. He even mentioned Mel Blount saying the same. Back in the day, if a 100-yard rusher broke through, the defense would take it personally. Like, seriously, they’d beat themselves up over it. So for the ex-QB, it’s simple. You’ve got a tough defense, but it won’t last forever. You want to win? Do it now. And you better fix that front line with the help of the draft, before it’s too late.
Who should Mike Tomlin and the Steelers target to strengthen the defense?
With the NFL Draft creeping up, Mike Tomlin’s Steelers are staring at a big question: where do they start? They’ve got holes, no doubt. D-line, running back, wideout, quarterback, defensive back. It’s a long list. Already, the team is dealing with TJ Watt’s drama. So now what?
Well, as per many analysts, in Round 1, Oregon’s Derrick Harmon feels like the right man. Now, he’s not the top DT on the board – that’s Mason Graham, and he’ll be long gone by the time Pittsburgh’s on the clock. But Harmon? He’s still a big-time talent. He just visited the team, too. So, this indicates something.
Then in Round 5, Mike Tomlin’s team might take a swing on a defensive back. In this, Mac McWilliams from UCF fits the mold. He is underrated, versatile, and has shown out at the Senior Bowl. And the Steelers always keep an eye there. So yeah, Harmon early, McWilliams late, could be their new members, for a team with big dreams and limited draft capital.
The post Steelers Legend Throws Mike Tomlin’s Defense Under the Bus as TJ Watt Sparks Trade Rumors After Cryptic Social Media Post appeared first on EssentiallySports.