You'd be wise not to mention T.J. Watt trade talks around Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro Cameron Heyward. Chris Brockman found this out the hard way on The Rich Eisen Show. Heyward joined Eisen to discuss football, but when Brockman, The Rich Eisen Show co-host, toyed with potential trade talks surrounding Watt, Heyward immediately put his foot down.
"I'm going up to Omar [Khan] and I'm telling him, 'That's not happening,'" Heyward stated on a recent episode ofThe Rich Eisen Show. "If there's even a trade that gets up there, I don't think it helps our team to trade a guy like that."
Heyward went on to joke that he doesn't have the power to make demands in the front office, but it's clear that he believes trading Watt is a bad idea.
Before being asked specifically about a trade, Heyward was asked about the vibe surrounding Watt and everything that's been going on with the superstar edge rusher.
"We've talked, but we don't really talk about contracts," Heyward said. "But, man, that's my brother. I want that dude to get paid what he deserves. That dude is one of the most fierce and best players in our league, and he's respected throughout the league. We talk about, on defense, we circle players on offense. But offensive players have to circle number ninety week in and week out."
Heyward went on to state that he wants to continue to see T.J. Watt be a 'Pittsburgh Steeler' and a 'one-helmet guy'.
The Pittsburgh Steelers must appease T.J. Watt to maximize this one-year window in 2025
If and when the Pittsburgh Steelers ultimately sign T.J. Watt to a contract extension, we know that this is going to take him close to the end of his career. However, Aaron Rodgers admitted on The Pat McAfee Show after signing that this is very likely his last NFL season.
This means that the Steelers may have just a one-year window to make it work and compete for a championship before being forced to 'rebuild' around a rookie quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft. Watt may not be thrilled about being around for a rebuild, but the Steelers know that his presence improves their chances of winning in the postseason.
It would be counterintuitive for Omar Khan and the Steelers' front office to make the decisions they've made in 2025 only to turn around and disgruntle their best player before the start of an all-important season.
While it may not be what they're hoping for, the Pittsburgh Steelers will eventually need to give in to Watt's contract demands. Being tied to the superstar one year longer than they'd hope isn't going to wreck this team financially, and the Steelers have to spend the cash anyway.
Heyward is speaking the truth when he says it doesn't help the Steelers to trade away T.J. Watt. The best players on the team are aging (just like Watt), but Pittsburgh's best player can still help them win now in this rapidly fleeting window.
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