Pittsburgh Steelers make the Derek Watt signing official

It seems like it has been weeks, although not even one week, since the Pittsburgh Steelers have come to terms on a 3-year contract with fullback/special teams ace Derek Watt. Watt, the former member of the Los Angeles Chargers and brother of T.J. Watt, is now about to embark on a new chapter of his football career in the Steel City.

It took a while, but the move was finally made official by the Steelers today:

Even Watt took to his verified Twitter account to talk about the signing becoming official.

So, what took so long? With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing people to remain in their homes, the Steelers likely had to contact a trusted doctor for Watt to pass his physical and make the acquisition final.

It might seem like a simple task, but when you are talking about paying a player millions of dollars, you want to make sure they have a clean bill of health before you have someone sign on the dotted line.

Want more background on Watt? This from Steelers.com:

Derek Watt was originally drafted by the Chargers in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, the 198th pick overall. He has played in every game in his four seasons, starting 13 of 64 games.

Watt has been used mainly in a blocking role and on special teams, with 19 rushing attempts for 49 yards and one touchdown, which came during the 2019 season. He also has 10 receptions for 152 yards.

Some love the move, while others hate it. Either way, Derek Watt is here to stay, at least for a few seasons, to fans might get used to seeing not just another Watt, but a fullback, prowling Heinz Field.

Be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black-and-gold as they continue through NFL Free Agency, as well as prepare for the 2020 NFL Draft at the end of April.