Jason Burgos
A new report revealed a surprising reason why this will likely be TJ Watt’s final season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Watt is going to go down as one of the greatest players ever for a franchise that has quite a few of them. Over his nine seasons in the Steel City, Watt has gone to the Pro Bowl in every season except his rookie year, is a four-time All-Pro, and earned Defensive Player of the Year honors when he posted a ridiculous 22.5 sacks in 2021.
He already leads the franchise in sacks and QB hits, and can take the No. 1 spots for forced fumbles and tackles for loss this season. He is a Steelers legend. However, as great as his run has been, including playing a key role in six trips to the playoffs, all good things come to an end. And this might be Watt’s last year in Pittsburgh, even though he has two more years on his contract after 2026.
Teams think TJ Watt could hit the trade block next spring
On Thursday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler explained that the team wants to hold on to linebacker Nick Herbig after making more progress in 2025 and posting 7.5 sacks in a part-time role. He is only 24 years old, and another good season will make him a top free agent target for many teams next spring. However, the Steelers already have a lot of money invested in Watt and Alex Highsmith.
Something has to give if the Steelers want to get Herbig locked into a new long-term deal, and the NFL insider claims teams around the league believe Watt will be the odd man out and could hit the trade block next year.
“If the Steelers end up signing Herbig long term, having three large contracts allocated to one position is a tough proposition. Watt, for all his greatness, turns 32 in October and has guaranteed salaries of $32 million in both 2026 and 2027. He is a legacy player, something Pittsburgh values more than most. But some teams could see Pittsburgh at least considering moving on from him.”
-Jeremy Fowler
Trading Watt would bother many Steelers fans. However, Fowler’s point is fair, and it would be smart to move on from the future Hall of Famer while his value is still high and before he hits an age-related decline. Yet, if Herbig doesn’t show more growth this season, it will definitely change opinions on a possible Watt trade.
