Why the Steelers should trade for J.J. Watt now
Who do they trade?
Ok, So if the Steelers want to pull off this caper, how do they do it. It’s no secret that Pittsburgh will be cash strapped going into 2021, leaving some hard choices as to who to re-sign and who to let go to free agency. Sure lots of people would have lots of opinions. That said, only one combination makes sense and has any realism to it. This specific trade A trade for J.J. could actually improve their salary cap situation and leave them in a better financial position going into 2021. So we circle back to the missing linebacker Bud Dupree.
Granted, Bud Dupree is a talented Linebacker and can help get Pittsburgh to the playoffs. The only negative he costs the Steelers $15 million for 2020 thanks to the franchise tag. There is little if no chance the Steelers resign Dupree. He will leave the Steelers after the 2020 season. Also, considering they signed Eric Ebron in the offseason, that makes Vance McDonald expendable. McDonald will make $4.9 million in 2020 with an option in 2021 for $8.4 million. So trade both of them to Houston for J.J. Watt and his $15.5 Million. That can potentially give the Steelers perhaps as much as $10 million in cap space for 2021and the Texans can deal with trying to resign Dupree.
Making this move allows the Steelers to create extra space under the salary cap heading into 2021, which could even give them a chance at another back-to-back championship run. The move gives Houston a talented tight end and a much younger linebacker they could build around defensively.
Likelihood of a deal
A deal such as this makes perfect sense for both clubs. However, when it comes to NFL trades, common sense generally does not factor into the equation always. Just ask the Minnesota Vikings about the Hershel Walker trade. They probably still wish they could undo that trade.
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Nonetheless, Pittsburgh wants J.J. Watt whether they publicly admit it or not. The Texans know they will more than likely lose J.J. at the end of his contract in 2023. So why not get it done. It could be a win-win for both teams. Well, considering the Pittsburgh did manage a last-minute deal for Jerome Bettis. Perhaps the Steelers, if they want J.J. bad enough, could negotiate a deal to make that happen, thus making them the first team in NFL history to have three brothers playing on the same Roster. Not to mention possibly bringing another Lombardi Trophy back to Pittsburgh.