The Monday trade of star pass rusher and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett was a shock, as was the massive contract extension Pittsburgh Steelers OLB Nick Herbig agreed to on Tuesday. Based on those two moves, it has many questioning the future of one T.J. Watt in the Steel City.
Watt is coming off a down season in 2025, recording just 7.5 sacks and 43 pressures. He looked a step slow last season, and opponents were able to easily scheme against him.
But the Steelers don’t appear to have any plans of moving on from Watt anytime soon, according to the Post-Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo.
“The Steelers do not typically go down that road at all. I mean, they have cut guys before with years left on the contract. They’ve said, ‘Okay, you’re past your prime and we’re gonna move on.’ But like to go down that road of trading a star like that, it just doesn’t happen,” Fittipaldo said of Watt on 93.7 The Fan Wednesday. “I still think it’s important for T.J. to end here, although what transpired here in the last 24 hours does get me thinking.
“But yeah, I still think they’re super committed to T.J. and they’re kinda like unicorns right now.”
The Steelers and Watt are unicorns, according to Fittipaldo, based on the fact that they committinged big money to an aging EDGE rusher and are intent keeping him as a one-helmet guy.
For now.
After the Browns traded Garrett, the conversation shifted — at least locally — to the belief that the Steelers should explore trading Watt. That conversation only gained steam after the Steelers and Herbig agreed to an extension.
Watt’s contract would make a trade very tricky, but the Steelers don’t even appear to be entertaining such talk. He’s a one-helmet guy, much like fellow team captain and close friend Cameron Heyward. Watt isn’t going anywhere unless he wants to leave.
That’s how the Steelers do things, and they should be committed to Watt with a new defensive coordinator in Patrick Graham, who will be tasked with getting Watt back on track.
Will that commitment pay off? All eyes will be on Watt in 2026.
Recommended for you