In this quiet period of the NFL calendar, hypothetical trades are fun to discuss because most days are newsless.
It’s fun to pictureSteelers edge rusher T.J. Watt in an Eagles jersey, even though it’s unlikely the Eagles trade for him.
ESPN reported on Monday that Watt is unhappy with his contract situation entering the final year of his four-year, $112 million deal, and multiple teams have contacted the Steelers about Watt’s availability.
The Steelers are not considering trading Watt, according to the report, but outside team interest has increased after Pittsburgh gave its two new acquisitions (cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith) raises, leaving them with less money to pay Watt. NFL insider Adam Schefter mentioned on ESPNthat Watt and the Steelers aren’t close on a new deal, and Watt could demand a trade before the season.
Some people believe the Eagles should pursue Watt to improve their pass rush, which got weaker this offseason after losing edge rusher Josh Sweat in free agency.
Pittsburgh sports radio host Andrew Fillipponi told SportsRadio 94WIP Tuesday that the Steelers would trade Watt to the Eagles for edge rusher Nolan Smith and a late-round draft pick — an idea Eagles fans don’t love.
“T.J. Watt is a top-tier pass rusher in the league and probably will be for the next few years. Knowing all this, I’ll take Nolan Smith,” an Eagles fan commented on X.
“World’s dumbest trade,” another Eagles fan said.
“God no. Why would we do that,” this Eagles fan posted.
Of course, the Eagles would love to add Watt, who remains one of the league’s best pass rushers, but they can’t afford him or any other top edge rusher. So there’s no reason for Eagles fans to get upset about a Smith-Watt trade proposal, because it’s not happening.
Next offseason, the Eagles will likely sign All-Pro defensive tackle Jalen Carter to a massive extension and could also give defensive tackle Jordan Davis, safety Reed Blankenship and Smith extensions. Cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean both could get paid after the 2026 season.
After acquiring Watt, the Eagles would need to give him a significant pay raise, and he could request to beat Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett’s contract extension ($40 million per year) to become the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL.
The addition of Watt would make it impossible for the Eagles to keep their young defensive core together, as he would take up most of their cap space. In 2026, Philadelphia is slated to have $17,722,656 million in cap space, according to OverTheCap.com. That’s not a lot of room for big contracts, so the Eagles can’t afford to pay Carter and Watt at the same time.
Carter’s new contract could make him the highest-paid defensive tackle in the league, surpassing Chiefs star Chris Jones ($31.75 million per year).
If the financial barrier wasn’t as steep, perhaps the Eagles would make a strong effort to trade for Watt, but they would be reluctant to part ways with Smith to get it done.
The former Georgia star broke out during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run last season, amassing 4.5 playoff sacks, and he could develop into one of the NFL’s best pass rushers in his third season. Trading away their promising 24-year-old edge rusher for an aging star — Watt turns 31 this season — would be a massive gamble — a decision the Eagles could end up regretting.
Watt has made six All-Pro teams (four first-team selections and two second-team selections), seven Pro Bowls and won the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2021.
After putting up unbelievable numbers (108 sacks and 33 forced fumbles) during the first eight years of his career, Watt is now considered a Hall of Fame lock.
Even though he’s more accomplished than Smith and is currently the better player, the long-term upside of Smith is too great to move on from.
Smith could turn into a perennial All-Pro, becoming a cornerstone of Philadelphia’s defense for the next decade, and as Watt gets older, he could regress into a worst player than Smith.
Entering the prime of his career, Smith should continue to make major strides, boasting a combination of elite athleticism, toughness, physicality and intelligence — all the reasons he got selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Certainly, Watt would improve the Eagles’ chances of winning consecutive Super Bowls, but even without adding a player of Watt’s caliber, the Eagles still arguably have the best defense in the NFL.
The Eagles’ pass rush consists of unproven and flawed players, raising questions about the team’s defensive line depth this season. But the issue could be solved with a smaller move, like trading for somebody who’s still on a rookie contract or signing a veteran edge rusher to a one-year deal.
It wouldn’t be smart for the Eagles to go all-in for Watt, considering the ramifications. They already have the pieces in place to win another Super Bowl and don’t need to make a big move to put them over the top.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Cayden Steele may be reached atCSteele@njadvancemedia.com
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