NFL

Steelers sign EDGE T.J. Watt to three-year, $123 million contract extension

There were no sports — at least those that I follow — yesterday, so I was kind of hoping for no news, either. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy writing, but a day of nothingness would’ve been tranquil. Oh well.

I expected Watt’s extension to be completed at some point, but this price point is very, very high. $123 million total and $108 million fully guaranteed over three seasons is nothing to sneeze at, as the Steelers are making a monumental commitment here.

Watt is worth it, though. The edge defender is, ever so slightly, the best player at his position — and possibly in the league. He’s obviously less valuable than many franchise quarterbacks, but Watt is beyond elite. His production dipped a fair amount in 2024, as he posted 11.5 sacks, though he was limited later in the year by an ankle injury. Now fully healthy, the 30-year-old should approach the 22.5 and 19 sacks he recorded in 2021 and 2023, respectively.

This extension is now the high-water mark for non-quarterbacks, although it’ll surely be topped at some point, probably by Micah Parsons. For now, however, Watt is happy, and that’s the most important factor for Pittsburgh, a franchise hoping to contend again for the first time since 2020 (maybe even 2017). The Steelers probably won’t raise the Lombardi Trophy during the Watt era, but at least they’re trying.

Grade: B-

NBA

Trail Blazers sign PG Damian Lillard to three-year, $42 million contract

More news on what was supposed to be a quiet day!

Lillard, recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, almost certainly won’t play this season. That fact, coupled with this agreement including a third-year player option, makes this possibly just a reunion for the 2026-27 campaign. Of course, Lillard opting to return to Portland makes a future departure unlucky, but most of us thought the same thing when LeBron James returned to Cleveland in 2014. (Damian Lillard is not LeBron James.)

If it’s possible to be both surprised and unsurprised by a transaction, this one fits. The Trail Blazers are inching toward competitive status, but are probably a year away. In essence, that times well with Lillard’s return. In the meantime, the 35-year-old will undoubtedly serve as a mentor to Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, two young Portland guards. That matters, and so will Lillard to the franchise’s on-court product upon his return to action.

Because Lillard is being paid handsomely to no longer play for the Bucks, Portland is getting a bargain with the nine-time All-Star. The player option at the end of this contract probably won’t be exercised, so the club is really paying $28 million for one season of Lillard. In today’s financial climate, that’s a good deal for the Trail Blazers, one that adds more credibility to an up-and-coming team.

This is a fun bit of news, both for an ascending team and a still relevant player.

Grade: A-