Three-time All-Pro and one-time Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt had one goal to accomplish this offseason, in a broad-stroke sense.
"I'm trying to do everything I can to win a Super Bowl," Watt said after Thursday's Steelers OTAs on the South Side.
A blanket question I asked him about the goals he wanted to accomplish over the offseason came to that declarative sentence, as Watt and the entirety of the Steelers' roster took part in the optional organized team activities portion of the offseason this week at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
On the field, his play needs no description. Off the field, the moves calculated by Omar Khan and the front office brought forth new pieces to all three levels of the Steelers' defense, whether it be from the draft or through free agency.
With a few months until the season officially kicks off against the 49ers September 10, Watt is embracing the process of meshing who is returning with those who are new to this, in Pittsburgh.
Even if that means taking in the new players under his wing, as he is set to enter his seventh NFL season.
"Just by doing what we've been doing," Watt said. "Showing the guys the ropes. There's a good mix of guys that have been through it for many years and young guys that are eager to learn, and I think that's a good potion for success."
The most recent add to the defense came via the signing of veteran pass rusher Markus Golden on Wednesday. The 32-year-old spent the first four years of his career in Arizona, before having a cup of coffee with the Giants in 2020 before being dealt back to Arizona, where he spent the last two seasons. Golden has achieved 10 or more sacks three times in his career, including by posting 11.0 to go along with 10.0 tackles for loss in 2021. Last season, Golden posted 2.5 sacks and 7.0 tackles for loss while playing in all 17 games.
Golden is a proven, durable pass rusher who has played in at least 16 games in each of his last four seasons. Of course, he spent the last two seasons lining up opposite another Watt -- T.J's older brother, J.J. Watt.
"(J.J.) had nothing but good things to say about him," Watt said. "I think it'll help. We're always about having depth, especially in the pass rush game. Anybody who has a lot of experience in the room is someone who I'm looking forward to learning from."
Manny Jones, who played in four games last season with Arizona, was claimed off of waivers on May 16, Breiden Fehoko signed in April, Larry Ogunjobi was brought back on a three-year deal in March, and Keenau Benton was selected in the second round of the draft to help fortify the interior of the Steelers' defensive line.
The mix of young and old can be a healthy one, if the right approach is taken. Watt is keeping an open mind to what experiences the incoming veterans have had elsewhere.
"Every year we're adding people, so I don't know if it's truly any different this time of year," Watt said. "It's always important. I mean, that's why we're all here, and we're just trying to get better each and every day, trying to grow and trying to learn from each other, trying to learn how we practice here in Pittsburgh, and also being open-minded to the veterans that have had success at other places."
The Steelers dipped back into the Wisconsin well for their third and fourth former Badgers defensive linemen in the draft with Benton and then with Nick Herbig in the fourth round, the latter expected to slot in behind fellow former Badger Watt and rekindle their connection made through those ties.
"It's been cool. We've had many messages back and forth over the last two years," Watt said of his relationship with Herbig. "I've been able to see him develop and grow as a pass rusher. So I'm excited to have him in the room. I think we have four Badgers in the D-line room now, so it's pretty special. ... We're all grown men here. I'm just happy and proud of all the guys from Wisconsin that have been able to put in all the work to get to a point like this, and I'm just trying to do whatever I can to help guys develop their skills at the highest level."
All of this comes amid unresolved contract extension talks for Alex Highsmith, who has elevated his play with each season and is in line for a hefty pay raise. Chris Halicke has more on that from Wednesday's OTAs.
Watt acknowledged he is staying in his own lane when it comes to Highsmith and his contract extension, and rightfully so, but he did talk about Highsmith's largest growth point over his three seasons in the league.
"Just his confidence, honestly," Watt said. "I think that's a huge thing in the NFL is just being confident and knowing that you can hang and you can play at the highest level, and his pass rushing repertoire is continuing to grow, I think he plays the run really well, also. He's just continuing to get better. He doesn't seem to be satisfied."
Make that two starting pass rushers -- and really, really good ones at that -- that continue to get better and aren't satisfied with just being good pass rushers.
"He's still really young, and there's so many plays," Watt said. "Any pass rusher in the league will tell you that there's so many plays to be made. I think we always say the same thing after the season about how successful or unsuccessful you were that season. There's always so many more plays left on the plate, and it's just about how we can make more of those plays that didn't happen."
Plays were made at junctures last season, albeit with Watt missing a chunk of the season. The Steelers' run defense was ninth in the NFL while Highsmith and Cam Heyward were two of eight players league wide to notch at least 10.5 sacks. Watt was limited to just 5.5 sacks in his 10 games played because of pectoral and knee injuries.
He avoided another potential one a week ago.
Of course, Watt also talked about his viral incident from when he slipped into his pool while cleaning it. Watt added he didn't get injured in the incident while sharing a laugh about it after Thursday's practice.
Warning.. The activity in this video may be dangerousβ¦ donβt try at home.. (I am completely ok π) pic.twitter.com/IiXt5xQmsh
β TJ Watt (@_TJWatt) May 18, 2023
"Yes, I am good," Watt said. "I don't know how I missed the step, but I did, and a lesser athlete would've gotten hurt. ... I was very calm so I'm happy about myself being calm. The dog didn't react how I wanted him to, but that was because I yelled at him two minutes before that because he was digging into some mud. That's the background of that story ... The only reason why I posted it was because I wasn't hurt, it was all in good fun. I put it in the group chat and they were like, 'that's too funny not to post. You might as well just post it.'"
