Steelers Now
As training camp approaches and T.J. Watt’s contract drama continues to hover, questions about his future with the Pittsburgh Steelers are growing louder. While there is still optimism inside the building that a deal will get done, it is becoming more plausible that Watt may not be with the Steelers much longer.
Extending the four-time first-team All-Pro would seem like an obvious move. But when you look deeper, there are multiple angles that suggest the team could go in another direction. In particular, a trade is not as crazy as it sounds.
Watt, the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year, is entering the final season of his four-year, $112 million contract and is seeking a new deal worth somewhere between $35 million and $40 million annually. There is no doubt Watt has been one of the most dominant defensive players of the last decade. Still, there is a legitimate argument for why handing him another blockbuster extension might not be the smartest long-term move.
Watt still has gas left in the tank, but there was a slight dip in production in 2024. He played all 17 games but recorded just 11.5 sacks, a strong season for most players, but a noticeable drop from his 19.5 sacks in 2023. While sacks do not tell the full story, and Watt remained effective in other areas, the broader concern is what history tells us about aging edge rushers.
Take his older brother J.J. Watt for example. In his first eight seasons, J.J. totaled 92 sacks. Over the following three years, he posted just 10. That is not to suggest T.J. will follow the same path, but it is important context when evaluating whether to hand out another high-dollar, multi-year deal into his 30s.
There is no denying that losing Watt would hurt the defense. But Pittsburgh is not in dire straits at the position either. Alex Highsmith has proven to be more than capable as a starter over the last four years. Fourth-round pick Nick Herbig flashed as a rookie in 2024 and looks like a dependable rotational player who could develop into more with a larger role.
Pittsburgh also drafted Jack Sawyer out of Ohio State this year—a player many considered a steal after a prolific season anchoring the Buckeyes defense. That gives the Steelers at least three solid options on the edge, along with promising talent up front.
First-round pick Derek Harmon and fifth-rounder Yahya Black bolster the interior defensive line. Keanu Benton has already flashed the ability to be a long-term contributor. Altogether, the Steelers have the bodies and upside to withstand the loss of Watt if the return value is right
Hypothetical Proposed Trade Scenario
Steelers receive:
Lions receive:
The Lions already have one of the NFL’s best offensive arsenals. Amon-Ra St. Brown is among the...
