Steelers should welcome a disgruntled J.J. Watt if Texans open to trade

Texans star defensive lineman J.J. Watt recently voiced his frustration with his team. Here’s why the Steelers would welcome him in a potential trade.

Before last season, the thought of the Steelers acquiring an All-Pro player through a trade after the season already started would be absurd. However, that’s essentially what Pittsburgh did in 2019. Minkah Fitzpatrick voiced his frustration with his role on the Texans and Mike Tomlin was quick to give Miami a call.

Now, Texans star defensive lineman, J.J. Watt, is the latest to voice his frustration with his team following a second consecutive loss on Sunday. Here’s what Watt had to say, according to The Score:

"“These two weeks, we haven’t done enough to win the games, and at some point, you gotta start winning ’em. At some point, you gotta win these tough games against tough teams. I’m sick of losing, that’s for sure.”"

Watt also didn’t shy away from showing fans how angry he was following teammate Ross Blacklock’s ejection late in the game, stating “It was a stupid play. It was selfish.”

J.J. Watt’s love for the game of football radiates off him. This is the same player who tried to get players to really hit each other during the Pro Bowl a few years back when he could be heard mic’d up saying “Come on! This isn’t pattycake!”

Steelers poke around to see if Texans are interested in a trade

The Texans are coming off two straight losses in which they have allowed their opponents to score 33.5 points per game. Last year, Bill O’Brien was a part of several big trades involving players like Laremy Tunsil and Jadeveon Clowney. This past offseason, he traded away one of his top three players in wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Clearly, the Texans aren’t afraid to make big moves – even if it means they come out on the losing end of the deal.

T.J. Watt and Derek Watt have voiced multiple times over the offseason that J.J. is ‘jealous’ of his little brothers getting the chance to play together and to be around family. At this point in his career, Watt has earned the right to choose where he wants to play, and nowhere fits the bill quite like Pittsburgh. In addition to playing with his brothers, he also has the chance to earn a Super Bowl ring.

While the Steelers would have to make a few more moves in order to find the cap space for Watt, it’s not out of the realm of possibility. Pittsburgh currently has $9.64 million in spending money, according to Over the Cap, and that could really increase with one big move (like a Ben Roethlisberger extension, for instance).

J.J. Watt’s cap number is reasonable considering the talent. He’s currently making $15.5 million in 2020 and has one more year on his deal at $17.5 million. However, an extension for him could drop that cap number next year.

This is a move the Steelers are unlikely to do – especially with devoting big contracts to Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt. However, having J.J. Watt as a member of perhaps the most talented defensive group in the league would make this unit legendary. If they really wanted to, they could make this work.