T.J. Watt and the Steelers are the clear winners—Watt now earns a record-setting $41 million per year, making him the highest-paid non‑quarterback in NFL history and securing Pittsburgh’s defensive anchor amid a splashy offseason  But ripple effects are hitting hard: the Bengals now face pressure to re-sign Trey Hendrickson—who has out-sacked Watt recently—after he sat out minicamp and was fined over $100K , while Micah Parsons and other premier edge rushers see their leverage surge, with Dallas now expected to offer a deal in the $41–45 million range .