Insider Aditi Kinkhabwala claims the Steelers and T.J. Watt once exchanged bold words during contract negotiations.

"The stalemate is going to be that T.J. Watt wants to be the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league. And the Steelers are looking at it that he's age 31. In order to accommodate any kind of large contract, it can't be a three-year deal, it has to be a five-year deal because you need to spread the money out."

Watt is signed through the 2025 campaign but presumably is looking for a pay raise that would match or better the value of the four-year, $160M extension Myles Garrett signed to stay with the Browns earlier in the offseason.