Steelers news: Amid trade interest for T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh remains focused on contract extension

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After trading one of their biggest stars Monday morning, nothing looks off the table for a Steelers front office that’s already traded for D.K. Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey, and Jonnu Smith, signed Aaron Rodgers, and jettisoned George Pickens and Minkah Fitzpatrick this offseason.

It’s no surprise then that trade rumors around star outside linebacker T.J. Watt, who’s currently in a contract dispute, are starting to swirl. On the last year of his current deal, Watt has held out of Pittsburgh’s OTAs and mandatory minicamp as he waits for a new extension.

Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett reset the market for his position with a $40 million-per-year extension in 2025. Watt, on his current deal, is making a yearly average of just over $28 million.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday that teams have been discussing the possibility of a Watt trade given that he’s “unhappy” with his contract situation — and Pittsburgh’s recent trade only reinforces the belief they might be open to moving the former Defensive Player of the Year.

However, Schefter added, “Pittsburgh hasn’t shown any willingness to deal Watt so far,” and reports from other Steelers beat writers and NFL reporters have backed it up.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero posted on X, formerly Twitter, that sources have told him the team has “no intention” of trading Watt. “(T)heir focus remains on extending Watt’s contract.”

“[The Steelers are] all-in on 2025 and that plan includes T.J. Watt,” he posted later on Monday.

However, the door might be more open to a trade than before. “Six months ago, I’d say there was no way T.J. Watt wouldn’t be a Steeler for the 2025 season,” wrote ESPN Steelers beat writer Brooke Pryor on X Monday. “I still think it’s incredibly unlikely he goes anywhere, but this regime is a real wild card.”

On Monday, PennLive’s Nick Farabaugh posted a source’s more blunt assessment of the Watt trade rumors: “F—- no.”


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