The Steelers’ standoff with T.J. Watt continues amid the star edge rusher’s desire to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.
The impasse in negotiations has naturally led to trade speculation. Though teams have reportedly inquired about Watt, the Steelers’ position has been clear: they have no intention of moving the current face of their franchise.
However, the Steelers have been evaluating Watt’s trade value, according to Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk). Kaboly said on 93.7 The Fan that Pittsburgh is “obviously inquiring” about the potential return of a Watt trade, characterizing it as “due diligence” as the team is still focused on retaining their all-time sack leader.
Still, exploring Watt’s value on the trade market could give the Steelers information to help them in their negotiation and decision-making process. Lowball offers would indicate that other teams would not sign Watt to a top-of-the-market extension and instead see him as a one-year rental. More aggressive valuations would suggest that other teams see Watt as a long-term investment and may be willing to meet his contract demands.
This is a common practice for teams in contract stalemates, especially with older players. Taking calls on Watt is unlikely to inspire the Steelers to trade him, but it will clarify his value around the league and help them hone in on agreeable extension terms.
Of course, it is possible that another team could blow the Steelers away with their offer and get newly-extended general manager Omar Khan to consider moving the four-time All-Pro. Teams in similar situations have reverse course once the trade compensation hits the table, and Pittsburgh’s desire to add a top quarterback prospect in the 2026 draft may make them more willing to consider a deal. It’s worth noting, however, that interested teams are likely contenders who will only get better by adding Watt, capping the value of their draft picks, which will likely be late in the round.
The expectation remains that Watt and the Steelers will find a way to agree on terms before the season starts. Watt skipped OTAs and minicamp, but is not expected to hold out from training camp. However, he has never expressed any desire to leave Pittsburgh and seems unlikely to demand a trade to fulfill his financial wishes.
Uh oh
Hmmm
Hmmmm🥢
Steelers famous for bad decisions so they’ll do whatever the worst choice is
Bad decisions compared to who? All sports/franchises make easy hindsight decisions to the fan base. Please tell me your team and genius decisions that the Steelers can never compare to?
Yeah you’re bright, aren’t you
My question was asked to someone else. I will kindly wait for their reply. Do you even know how to ask a question? It ends with a question mark.
Wasn’t talking to you… was replying to never remember ‘s comment my man… lol
When you reply to someone, it appears as an indent below the original comment. Just an FYI
Steelers are actually pretty on spot of when to get rid of people
Claypool
Brown
Bryant
Johnson
Actually I think they’ve made a lot of great decisions. Bringing in Minkah for barely anything, then extending him. Drafting and extending TJ Watt. Drafting Pickens. Drafting a whole host of other players they got a lot out of. Najee Harris was exactly the right pick at the time, and McFarland was a smart pick that just didn’t work out because he wasn’t fast enough to be a difference maker in the NFL or strong enough to be a tough between the tackles runner. They fixed that mistake by bringing in Jaylen Warren though.
I think Kaleb Johnson was a great pick, too. Perfect bruising complement to Warren and a guy who should take pressure off of Rodgers.
They’ve done a good job bringing in high tier talent to go all in with Rodgers without sacrificing too much future financial flexibility. That’s obviously what this standoff is over.
If they trade Watt, they can kiss any remote chance of a championship with Rodgers goodbye.
Calling Najee Harris the right pick is insane. Landon Dickerson went 13 picks later he’s a HOFer. They still have line issues… Stop lol. McFarland didn’t work, so it wasn’t smart lol. Warren fumbles once out of every 49 touches, or every other game if he’s a lead back (he isn’t).
I do agree they have done an amazing job at bringing in high tier NAMES without sacrificing too much of the future. But most of those guys are over the hill and it doesn’t change this team into a contender. 9-8, 10-7, and a wild card pummeling at the best.
Comparing a guard to a perennial 1,000 yard RB is what is insane.
The Steelers basically ran their offense around his legs.
Maybe you also forget that Dickerson was coming off of a major injury in college.
You “stop lol”. Tf are you to be this disrespectful?
The dude only got 1000 yards cuz they ran the wheels off of him. Quit it. 3.6 YPC is laughable. Dude could never find a hole. Easily one of the most replaceable players in all of football. They ran the offense around his legs? Good thing the offense was TRASH every year he was there. Just stop. I’m me. I can be as I choose.
And I wasn’t disrespectful, but I can get disrespectful real fast if you’d like. Not my fault you are so sensitive you interpreted it in that manner.
LOL yeah… like 16 straight seasons without a losing season is a bad decision…. Riiiiiiigjt I forgot about that!! Smh
Still seems weird to sign a 41-year old quarterback and trade for a 30 year old corner just to then turn around and trade the best player on the team.
Forgot to mention said best player is 30yrs old. They sure do operate strangely these days.
I’m not advocating for a trade here but yes he’s their best player but he will be 31 and asking to be the highest paid non QB which is tough considering injury history and how he disappeared for second half of the year last season.
He deserves to be paid but giving him 40 a year might be smart right now but how will it look 2 or 3 years from now?
It’s the length of the deal at 40 mil that’s an issue for me
Goodness gracious please let this saga end soon lol the holdout contract offseason news is the worst time
If it ended what else would they write about daily
It could be worse. We could still be waiting for Rodgers to sign with the Steelers. Talk about excruciating…
A T L!!! A T L!!! A T L!!!
I think steeler fans are gonna be in for a cold shower when they realize other teams aren’t parting 5 first round picks for a 31+ linebacker.
Calling the best edge rusher of the past decade “a 31+ linebacker” shows an obvious lack of understanding the game.
Maybe the best edge rusher in the past two decades junior if my calculations are correct. Doesn’t supersede the fact he’s post 30 and while still might have some tread on the tire no one is giving up the franchise for that.
Calling me junior when I’m probably older and tougher than you is certainly a choice. Lol so pathetic to do that ish.
Older maybe, tougher, debatable. Ever hang high voltage power lines while dangling 280 feet in the air, while having 440 watts of electricity run down your body thinking maybe now would have been a good time to look into trucking school after Nam. Savage times in Arequipa, savage times.
I don’t like their GM at all
I get that when you’re arguably the best at your position you want that bag…. but careful what you wish for.
Or they are floating this story as leverage over Watt’s camp.
Playing up the “you might have to leave this place where you say you want to stay” and/or “you aren’t worth as much as you think” angles.
This maybe exactly what is happening, don’t think he’ll be the high paint top 3 and give him incentives to be the the highest paid for a couple years?
AFC North has become a circus.
The only reason the Steelers aren’t getting dinged as bad as the Bengals are for this is because of their sustained winning and ability to draft well and replace players over their twenty plus year run.
If the Bengals had hit on their multitude of draft picks at DE or DB or LB and not been stingy with extensions for defensive players or had consistently been in the playoffs, nobody would be knocking them as much for the Hendrickson standoff.
Having a proven track record means everything.
Just overpay him already Steelers and shut this up. We all know that’s the end game here. Rooney is too soft to shake up the team and let Watt leave.