Steelers LB T.J. Watt gets bumped as highest-paid defender

When Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt signed his contract extension in the 2021 offseason, he became the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL with a $28 million per year average. But it took less than a year for the market to push a contract past his with the new extension signed by Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

Donald’s extension gives him an average of $31.7 million per season. Despite the fact that Donald came into the NFL three years ahead of Watt, the two have been closely connected the past three seasons as the two of them jockey for being the best overall defensive player in the league.

Last season Watt was named Defensive Player of the Year after tying the single-season sack record and has vowed to be even better in 2022.

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