Steelers 2021 offseason moves leading up to the draft

3. Not acquiring JJ Watt (signed with Arizona) or Deshaun Watson (now lawsuit pending)

It has been a football fan’s as well as a Steelers fan’s dream to have all 3 Watt brothers play together as a unit. The Steelers acquired TJ Watt in the 2018 Draft and signed Derek in last season’s free agency. All that’s missing is JJ who had 1 more season under contract with the Texans.

Due to financial strain (mainly a loss of revenue due to pandemic-related issues) and a lower salary cap, the Steelers did not have enough money on the table for JJ to come to Pittsburgh as Arizona had the better deal. JJ an 8 year NFL Veteran (could count 9 without the injuries he has encountered) would have been tremendous on a defense that needed the blitz package to improve and because we let go of Bud Depree, the search for a new captain would have been easy. Because of prior contract negotiations Pittsburgh had to deal with within their own roster, the acquisition of JJ Watt just could not happen.

Deshaun Watson has made complaints that he has been getting ignored in team meetings with their new head coach and had requested a trade or a release to get out of Houston. The abilities this guy has would ultimately boost the offense and he could have potentially been Roethlisberger’s successor once he retires. Though thanks to up to 40 lawsuits pending due to sexual assault charges brought against Watson, that plan has gone up in smoke, and until he gets his name cleared, there won’t be any football games for Watson in the foreseeable future.