Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt may be traded by the Steelers sooner or later, as one analyst dove deep into the topic of the shaky relationship between Watt and his team.
In a piece written by sports writer and analyst Mike Florio, the idea of linebacker T.J. Watt getting traded was floated around, as an indication that contract negotiations between the two parties may not be going as smoothly as anyone may be expecting.
“The due diligence could be part of an effort to say to Watt, when nut-cutting time arrives in the negotiations, ‘T.J., no one else is going to give you what you want AND what we want,’ the piece said.
“If the Steelers want to best frame that issue, they could give Watt permission to shop himself. The Bengals did it with Trey Hendrickson, who learned that there was no one who’d satisfy both him and the Bengals.”
The analysis also noted that the fact that the idea of a potential trade has floated around should be enough proof on the status of the relationship between the Steelers and Watt.
“It’s a minefield, to be sure,” Florio continued. “The mere fact that the Steelers apparently have tiptoed into it speaks to the extent of the gap between the two sides.”
The writer also noted how, ultimately, the question falls to whether Watt will take or reject whatever the Steelers will slide on the table to offer.
Is T.J. Watt Leaving The Steelers?
The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering the 2025 NFL season in an uncertain state of relationship with T.J. Watt. The uncertainty surrounding Watt’s future has been a hot topic amongst analyst and fans alike for the past weeks. So far, there have been no clear messages from either side regarding the next steps on his tenure on the franchise, such as a contract extension.
Watt entered the last year of his contract this 2025. According to previous reports, Watt may have been seeking a record-breaking contract extension, with the goal of becoming the highest-paid non-quarterback player in NFL history.
However, as he recently turned 31, and as he also saw a reduction in his sack total for the 2024 season, analysts have expressed doubt that the Steelers would offer a lucrative extension for him.
T.J. Watt, despite a decline, still performed on an elite level during the 2024 season. He delivered 61 tackles, 11.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, and defended four passes.
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