The Pittsburgh Steelers made a major move last summer to lock down their defensive cornerstone, T.J. Watt, agreeing to a three-year, $123 million extension with a massive $108 million guaranteed. It was a deal that reaffirmed Watt’s status as one of the NFL’s premier edge rushers and signaled Pittsburgh’s commitment to contending - not rebuilding.
But even with that contract in place, the Steelers aren’t completely shutting the door on the idea of parting ways with Watt this offseason. According to Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo, general manager Omar Khan could at least test the waters at the NFL Combine, gauging interest from teams that might be willing to take on Watt’s hefty price tag.
Now, let’s be clear: this doesn’t mean a trade is imminent - or even likely. But the fact that it’s being discussed at all is telling.
Watt’s deal is structured at about $42 million per year, a number that instantly narrows the field of potential suitors. Only a handful of teams have both the cap space and the win-now mindset to absorb that kind of commitment.
And even if one of them came calling, what would Pittsburgh want in return? A second-round pick?
That’s a tough pill to swallow when you’re talking about a player who, when healthy, is still one of the most disruptive forces in the game.
There’s more at play here than just dollars and cents. The Steelers didn’t bring in Mike McCarthy to oversee a rebuild.
And they certainly didn’t keep 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers in the fold to watch the team take a step back. This is a franchise still pushing for playoff relevance, and Watt - even after a quieter season - remains a key part of that equation.
Speaking of his 2025 campaign, Watt posted seven sacks over 14 games, a dip from his usual output. He missed three straight contests late in the year due to a partially collapsed lung suffered during a dry needling session - a freak injury that understandably slowed his momentum. But even with that setback, his presence on the field commands attention, opens up opportunities for others, and sets the tone for the defense.
That last point is especially relevant now. The Steelers have built up some depth at outside linebacker, with Alex Highsmith continuing to develop and Nick Herbig showing flashes of promise.
That depth gives Khan some flexibility - at least enough to listen if another team comes knocking. But flexibility doesn’t mean urgency.
As Fittipaldo put it, while Khan might be open to fielding calls, the odds of a trade actually going down remain low.
Still, in today’s NFL, everything has a price. If a championship-caliber team sees Watt as the missing piece and is willing to pay both the financial and draft capital cost, the Steelers might have a decision to make. For now, though, it feels more like due diligence than a full-blown trade mission.
Bottom line: T.J. Watt is still a Steeler. And unless someone makes an offer Pittsburgh can’t refuse, that’s not likely to change anytime soon.