Pittsburgh Steelers superstar OLB T.J. Watt had a forgettable 2025 season. He missed three games due to a freak dry-needling accident and registered just seven sacks when healthy. A solid figure, but much lower than what Watt is used to as one of the best pass-rushers of his era.
Former Steelers S and current radio personality Solomon Wilcots still believes Watt is the third-best pass rusher in football behind Myles Garrett and Will Anderson Jr. On The Opening Drive on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Wilcots explained why Garrett could help Watt have a strong 2026 season.
“This dude, year after year after year, gets the double-digit numbers. He’s a sure-shot Hall of Famer, but he’s still, in my mind, in his prime this year. This year, they’re going to be moving him around; he wants to do it. I think he’s driven by Myles Garrett. I think the two drive each other. There’s a cold war that exists between these two, having played in the same division, in the same draft class.”
Watt and Garrett are no longer divisional foes after Garrett’s trade to the Los Angeles Rams, but the two have been compared for as long as they’ve played. Watt wants to be the best, but that title currently belongs to Garrett, who broke the single-season sack record last season.
Outside of competing with Garrett, Watt surely wants to have a better season and prove he’s still one of the league’s top pass-rushers. While trying to best Garrett might motivate him, Watt currently needs to return to the conversation as a top-of-the-class pass rusher. While Wilcots still believes he’s No. 3 in the league, that sentiment isn’t widely held.
Pittsburgh’s scheme under Patrick Graham will allow for more movement up front, and Watt believes that will make the front seven stronger. While he hasn’t moved around much in the past, which he admitted was because he was stubborn, that could help Watt get back to being a premium pass-rusher.
An increasing number of top pass rushers have begun to move around, a change that should only benefit Watt’s game. While Garrett could certainly help motivate Watt, the defensive changes and Watt’s own desire to return his game to the top are what could lead to a big year.
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