Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt and his future with the team are looking to be uncertain as the new season closes in, and one analyst took on the idea of a potential trade of Watt to the Philadelphia Eagles.
As the future of T.J. Watt with the Steelers starts to look uncertain, sports analyst John Middlekauff explored the idea of a potential trade of Watt to the Eagles and what value Watt’s current team can get from the current Super Bowl champions.
For the analyst, finding a fair trade for Watt may not be as easy as it sounds like.
“If you’re going to trade your best pass rusher, you’re going to want one of their defensive linemen,” Middlekauff said in an episode of his program “3 and Out.”
“They’re not giving you Jalen Carter, will they give you Jordan Davis? I mean that’s not an apple for apple trade. When you do it (trade) before the draft, there’s a lot of value there.”
With these things considered, the analyst expressed his honest prediction on a rumored Watt trade.
“If I was a betting man right now I would say it’d be about 90 plus percent that T.J. Watt is not traded,” he added.
T.J. Watt’s journey with the Steelers began in 2017, when he was drafted as the 30th overall pick for the year’s NFL draft. Coming out of the University of Wisconsin, Watt was seen as a high-upside prospect, adding to the fact that he is the brother of NFL legend J.J. Watt.
So far, one of his most iconic seasons in the league was in 2021, where the tied the record for the most single-season sacks in the league with 22.5 sacks, which also earned him the NFl’s Defensive Player of the Year award.
He then suffered a decline due to injury during the 2022 season, but once again bounced back during the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Will T.J. Watt Get a Contract Extension From The Steelers?
T.J. Watt has been rumored to be looking for a record-breaking contract extension from the Steelers, with some reading into it as him looking to be the highest-paid non-quarterback player in NFL history.
However, contract negotiations have reportedly been stalled due to financial disagreements. Analysts have pointed out that the Steelers may have explored the potential trade value of Watt, and any market interest for him.
So far, T.J. Watt still delivered elite-level numbers during the 2024 season, despite a decline compared to his previous seasons.
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