Steelers Face Tough Call on T.J. Watt’s Future After Underwhelming 2025 Season
When the Steelers locked in T.J. Watt with a three-year, $123 million extension ahead of the 2025 season, it felt like a move rooted in loyalty as much as performance.
Watt had done everything right in Pittsburgh - a four-time First-Team All-Pro, a former Defensive Player of the Year, and the emotional heartbeat of a defense that’s long been the franchise’s identity. But now, just one year into that deal, the Steelers are staring down a harsh reality: Watt isn’t the same player, and the team might need to make a business decision that fans won’t love.
Watt, now 31, is still a name that commands respect. Opposing offenses still scheme around him.
But the production just hasn’t matched the reputation. Since the back half of the 2024 season, there’s been a noticeable dip - not just in sack totals, but in the kind of disruptive plays that once came with regularity.
Pressures, tackles for loss, quarterback hits - they’re all down. It’s not that Watt has become ineffective; it’s that he’s no longer the game-wrecking force he used to be.
And for a player carrying a contract that includes $108 million in guarantees, that’s a problem.
Now comes the hard part for general manager Omar Khan and the Steelers’ front office. They have to ask themselves a tough question: Is it time to move on?
Why Trading Watt Might Be Pittsburgh’s Best Option
Let’s be clear - cutting Watt isn’t on the table. Not only would it be a PR disaster, but financially it’s a non-starter.
Releasing him this offseason would saddle the Steelers with a staggering $94 million in dead money. That’s not just painful, it’s practically impossible under the cap.
But trading him? That’s a different story.
Yes, Watt’s contract is heavy - and yes, his play has declined. But he’s still T.J.
Watt. There are contenders out there that would take a swing on a veteran edge rusher with his pedigree, especially if they believe they’re one piece away.
And for Pittsburgh, a trade - particularly a post-June 1 deal - could offer some real financial relief.
If the Steelers were to trade Watt after June 1, they’d take a manageable $10 million dead cap hit in 2026 while freeing up $32 million in space. That’s money they could roll over or use to invest in younger talent. Even an earlier trade, while less favorable, would still save them $12 million against the cap.
The Bigger Picture: A Franchise in Transition
This isn’t just about Watt’s contract or his declining numbers. It’s about where the Steelers are as a team.
Right now, they’re not built to contend. And keeping a high-priced veteran pass rusher on a roster that’s clearly in transition doesn’t make much sense.
There’s also the matter of Nick Herbig - the 24-year-old edge rusher who’s quietly become the team’s most consistent threat off the edge. Herbig’s growth in 2025 was one of the few bright spots on an otherwise middling defense.
He’s young, explosive, and due for a payday of his own down the line. Giving him more snaps and a bigger role could be part of a long-term plan to rebuild the defense around a new core.
Would trading Watt bring back a haul? Probably not.
At this point, the Steelers would be lucky to land a Day 2 draft pick. But it’s not just about the return.
It’s about resetting the books, investing in younger talent, and acknowledging that the team needs to look forward - not back.
A Tough Goodbye, But Maybe the Right One
No one in Pittsburgh wants to see T.J. Watt in another uniform.
He’s been the face of the defense for nearly a decade, a player whose motor, leadership, and playmaking defined an era. But the NFL is a business built on what you can do now - not what you did then.
And right now, Watt’s trajectory doesn’t match his paycheck.
The Steelers have a difficult decision to make this offseason. Trading Watt won’t be popular - but it might be necessary.
If they want to build something sustainable, something that can compete in a loaded AFC, they’ll need to make some hard calls. Moving on from a franchise legend could be the first step in that process.