Watt, who will turn 31 in October, does not have much longer before entering the final stages of his career, so this one last big bite of the apple for him was financially critical.

While some analysts, like Nick Wright of FS1, ripped the Pittsburgh Steelers’ decision to give T.J. Watt a three-year, $123 million extension that includes $108 million fully guaranteed at signing.

So, when Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett ballooned the market with his $40 million per year extension in March after a contentious standoff with the Browns, the Steelers and Watt were thro...