Right now, T.J. Watt must feel like the kid who gets picked last for kickball. As the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to do things (see Aaron Rodgers, Ramsey Trade) Watt waits patiently for news of a new contract. Or something else…
Both Adam Schefter and Brooke Pryor from ESPN reported that “several” teams have inquired about trading for Watt. Anytime a player is in the midst of a contract situation these types of speculative reports are going to happen. As most of you know, the issue is whether the Steelers want to make Watt the NFL’s highest paid defensive player despite turning 31 years old in October.
In the spirit of total transparency, I suggested earlier today that this was part of the reason the Steelers traded Minkah Fitzpatrick back to Miami. He would have been up for an extension in 2026 while also 30 years old. So if the Steelers were willing to part with Minkah, why not be willing to part with Watt?
It’s a fair question but I would also argue that even though Watt had a “down year” he still put up solid numbers that had him in the discussion for defensive player of the year until later in the season. Fitzpatrick has been pretty average in recent seasons and I tend to think that’s where the distinction lies.
In regards to the reports I mentioned earlier, we must keep in mind a very important possibility. Agents have been known for years to slip information to reporters in the hopes that that information will be made public. Therefore, the team will be more willing to come to the table and get a deal done. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn’t.
Let’s make one thing clear; the fact that Schefter and Pryor posted these reports the same day as the big trade between the Steelers and Dolphins was not a coincidence. And T.J. Watt was never the last kid picked in kickball either.
