The Pittsburgh Steelers are not going through a good news period, as they may be on the verge of an unwanted franchise-altering decision, as the expected current contract negotiations with star linebacker T.J. Watt remain at a standstill point.
Now that the 2025 season is quickly approaching and Watt is entering the final stages of his deal, the All-Pro pass rusher must report to the mandatory team activities, because if he does not appear, this may fuel media speculation about a shocking blockbuster trade on the NFL horizon.
According to multiple reports, including respected media outlets like ESPN and Athlon Sports, several NFL teams have reached out to the Steelers about Watt’s availability. The franchise that is paying more attention to this situation are the Philadelphia Eagles, who are eager to catch such bargain in the market.
Contract disagreements keep continue
Watt, 30, is now looking to claim a new deal that would probably make him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history, surpassing some proper legends. His reported demands are around the figures of $35-40 million per year. His current four-year contract is nearly due and the $112 million extension signed in 2021, is set to expire after this season.
However, even when Steelers have publicly expressed their desire to keep Watt in their team for the long-term, some analysts suggest the two sides of the negotiation are far away of an agreement on guaranteed money and contract structure.
Watt’s absence from minicamp was enhanced by a cryptic Instagram post that featured a peace sign with no caption at all. Now he just lit the rumors up and have only intensified speculation about his future.
Eagles look closely
With all this mess around, teams across the whole US are reportedly exploring trade scenarios.
The Philadelphia Eagles, in particular, are seen as the ones with more eyes checking this situation in Pittsburgh.
Now that veterans Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat are no longer on the roster, the Eagles are looking to boosr their pass rush and, as other franchises in the league, they view Watt as a potential game-changer for the present and future.
A hypothetical trade could follow this structure:
- A 2026 first-round pick
- A 2027 second-round pick
- A 2027 fourth-round pick
In return, the Eagles would receive a player that in his younger career has 108 career sacks, eight Pro Bowl selections, and a reputation as one of the most disruptive, tough and skillful defenders of his generation.
Steelers have a lot of thinking to do
The Steelers are no strangers to the win-now moves as that is what they are doing in this offseason, including the purchase of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, wide receiver D.K. Metcalf, and cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Trading Watt would look like a contradiction, unless the front office believes the contract impasse is a no-to-go.
For Pittsburgh, the dilemma is crystal clear: extend Watt at a record-setting price putting everything at risk, or accept losing him for nothing in free agency. Even a worse case is possible, they watch him thrive in another uniform.
Read the full article here
