Don't bet on the Pittsburgh Steelers trading away T.J. Watt yet, but it's not impossible. General Manager Omar Khan just shipped Minkah Fitzpatrick out of town, which means he isn't afraid to make monumental changes to the roster. Watt will almost certainly eventually sign a contract extension with the Steelers, but if negotiations get murky, Khan might consider moving the star edge rusher.
The Steelers' potential trade of Watt would break the internet.
No one in Pittsburgh truly imagines him leaving. They expect him to re-sign, but you can't stop teams around the league from inquiring. Khan would be wise to assess the market and, if he can find a trade partner, determine what he could get in return for trading Watt. It's unlikely, but any of these mock trade proposals would catch the Steelers' attention.
Pittsburgh Steelers could ponder T.J. Watt trade if an enticing proposal happens
Dallas and Pittsburgh could swap money hungry defensive superstars
Khan would be on a new level by swinging this deal.
On one hand, he would be adding a versatile defensive star in Micah Parsons, but Khan would also still have the conundrum of paying another defensive player. Subtracting Watt for Parsons would be a blockbuster move that would get Pittsburgh a young defensive star who could help replace the void Watt would leave.
A trade of this caliber would be the blockbuster of all blockbusters. Making a move one-for-one is bold. Parsons hails from Pennsylvania, and he played college football at Penn State. He can bring versatility to the Steelers' defense. He can be a chess piece to provide the defense with options. Mike Tomlin would love to add Parsons, and you better have an elite replacement in mind if you deal Watt.
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Watt could demand a trade to his hometown Green Bay Packers
Watt grew up two hours away from Green Bay, and he still spends plenty of time in Wisconsin when he's away from Pittsburgh. His entire family is from the area, and it's easy to connect the franchise player to his hometown club. If the Steelers decide to make Watt available for trade, the Green Bay Packers better place a call. They have some interesting pieces to throw in a possible move.
Pittsburgh could use some help replacing Watt, and they would love to fix their issues at wide receiver. Adding Rashan Gary and Romeo Doubs helps fix a couple of needs on their roster. Neither Gary nor Doubs is near the level of Watt, which led to the second-round draft pick being included. It's a steep price for the Packers, but if they think they're close to a Super Bowl, they better pay up.
Steelers could get creative by swinging a deal with unsuspecting Bucs
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might not be the first thought of an adequate Watt destination, but it makes sense. They have a defensive-minded Head Coach in Todd Bowles, which could lead to an interest in adding a massive playmaker on that side of the ball. Tampa has plenty of talent on offense, and that could lead to them trying to balance their roster. Watt would be a terrific addition to shove the Bucs into contention.
Another point in this trade proposal forces the Steelers to exchange Broderick Jones for a proven franchise left tackle, with Tristan Wirfs.
That is a massive addition for Pittsburgh, which has struggled in the trenches. Adding a top pick and exchanging selections makes this deal sweeter for Khan. This mock trade got creative as the Steelers secure their offensive line, but add more draft picks to take a top quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh fixes their receiver problem as the Eagles shoot for a repeat
Khan knows he has produced ongoing problems at the receiver position. With Aaron Rodgers on the team, the Steelers might focus on improving their offense. The Philadelphia Eagles just won the Super Bowl, but they could get bold for a repeat. Adding Watt to their roster is elite, and it would shove their championship aspirations back into the limelight.
Pittsburgh would land A.J. Brown in this instance to pair with DK Metcalf. Fans would have little to complain about with two highly paid receivers in the fold. It would give Rodgers a ton of weapons to chuck the ball to. Philadelphia throws a top pick into the trade as a sweetener. Even though Brown is uber-talented, a star receiver isn't as impactful as Watt. Calvin Austin III is just a throw-in.