The Pittsburgh Steelers gave their fanbase one of its highest highs and one of its lowest lows on Monday when they announced a massive trade with the Miami Dolphins.
Now, that shocking trade has the media and fans speculating whether All-Pro edge rusher T.J. Watt could be the next beloved player to go, and if so, which teams make the most sense.
Surprising but Familiar Trade Fit Named for T.J. Watt Amid Contract Standoff
On a recent episode of “Get Up” on ESPN, NFL analyst Dan Graziano said that it doesn’t seem as if the Steelers have any interest in trading Watt despite their challenging contract negotiations. However, in an offseason that’s brought so many shocking moves, they have to play the what-if game.
Damien Woody said the Washington Commanders make sense. They desperately need pass rush help and have a rookie quarterback, which gives them the financial room to make a deal for someone of Watt’s caliber.
NFL insider Jeremy Fowler said that while they make a lot of sense, Washington is out of draft picks. “I want to add another team that would be perfect, the Green Bay Packers. Because they were quietly looking around for pass rush this offseason. He’s from Wisconsin, it would make so much sense if they could somehow pull that off.”
Watt is entering his ninth season in the league after being selected by the Steelers 30th overall in 2017. When Pittsburgh picked up the younger brother of J.J. Watt, the decision was heavily scrutinized, but head coach Mike Tomlin loves a pedigree, and this time the gamble paid off.
Sources: In recent weeks, multiple teams have been discussing whether they can trade for Steelers’ standout T.J. Watt, who skipped the team’s most recent minicamp. Pittsburgh hasn’t shown any willingness to deal Watt so far, but he’s unhappy with his contractual situation and… pic.twitter.com/iBh1DJr4uD
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 30, 2025
During his stellar career, Watt was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. A six-time All-Pro and a seven-time Pro Bowler, he holds a tied record for the most sacks in a season with 22.5.
The Steelers reportedly remain optimistic they will have a deal in place with Watt before the start of the season, despite him recently skipping mandatory minicamp. The last time Watt negotiated a new contract, he attended training camp but did not participate; instead, he held out to avoid fines. It took until almost the start of the 2021 season before it was worked out. It seems likely this situation could be similar.
Watt is likely expecting a significant pay boost. In 2021, he was made the highest-paid defender in the NFL at that time, and with Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby resetting the market, Watt likely wants to be paid commensurate with his peers. This could mean that he could make more than $40 million a year.
