Gerry Dulac’s long-running speculation about the Pittsburgh Steelers potentially moving a premier edge rusher resurfaced this week. While he has hinted at the possibility throughout the offseason, a fellow Pittsburgh Post-Gazette insider offered a dose of skepticism. Ray Fittipaldo doesn’t think the Steelers will trade T.J. Watt, but he did outline what it might take to make a deal happen.
“He’s a cornerstone guy. He’s their guy. They’ve taken care of him twice. Now, the only thing I’ll add to this, if you guys remember when he did this contract, it’s a very tradeable contract,” Fittipaldo said via 93.7 The Fan’s PM Team on Thursday. “I don’t really see it happening, and I don’t know that I see [Alex] Highsmith happening either. I would be surprised if they make that move unless they were bowled over with a great offer…A first, and maybe it’s more than a first. That would be my ask for a guy like T.J. Watt.”
Given the two first-round picks that Maxx Crosby would have fetched in the Ravens-Raiders trade had Baltimore not backed out of it, a first- and third-round pick doesn’t seem that far-fetched for a future Hall of Famer like Watt. But at 31 years old (turning 32 in October) and with a contract about 17 percent higher than Crosby’s, it isn’t comparing apples to apples. Watt’s hot streak of high sack totals has cooled off, while Crosby hit double digits last year in just one more game played. Also, Crosby is just 28 years old.
Pittsburgh may have been able to command a Crosby-like haul for Watt a year or two ago, but he’s now a couple years removed from his last dominant season. Who might consider a trade for him knowing he may be nearing the end of his dominance? It would need to be a team in the late stages of an open championship window. Somebody like the Los Angeles Rams could make sense given Matthew Stafford’s advanced age.
Rife with 2026 draft capital, Pittsburgh would be better served looking for a 2027 pick in return for Watt. Teams might be able to justify the high price tag if it’s a year in the future rather than giving up draft capital now. That’s the traditional logic at least, but reports indicate that nobody wants to part with 2027 draft picks due to the comparative strength of the two classes.
Even the Rams are hard to envision given the projected strength of the 2027 QB class. They may be looking for Stafford’s replacement then, especially if they pass on guys like Ty Simpson this year. It’s worth considering, if for no other reason than the Rams’ penchant for being aggressive with trading first-round picks.
Would Aaron Rodgers return to a team that trades one of its top stars? Probably not, but he hasn’t signed on the dotted line yet. Trading Watt is exactly the type of move that makes sense if Rodgers backs out at the last moment and leaves the Steelers with Will Howard at the starting helm.
Picking up 2027 picks won’t be easy. Trading a star veteran player might be the Steelers’ best path. Moving Watt—as painful as that may be in the short term—could set them up for the next era of success in Pittsburgh.