The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot of business to take care of as they prepare for the 2026 season. The team doesn’t even know who will be its quarterback, and once the franchise figures that out, the Steelers will be focused on having a successful first season under new head coach Mike McCarthy.
While Pittsburgh is rightfully focusing on what’s in front of it, people outside the building can look ahead and make predictions about the future. That’s exactly what some NFL executives did in a recent ESPN piece, with reporter Jeremy Fowler sharing some league-wide predictions about the 2027 offseason.
While so many monumental things will take place before the 2027 season, it’s possible to step back, take an aerial view of the league, and make an informed prediction about next season. One of the predictions that emerged from that process with Fowler is that T.J. Watt will become a trade candidate for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
T.J. Watt predicted to be a trade candidate for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2027
Watt is one of the best defenders in the league and has been a pillar for Pittsburgh since the team drafted him in 2017. Considering that, it seems inconceivable that the Steelers would trade the elite defender who has made the Pro Bowl the last eight seasons.
However, Fowler explained why it is a possible outcome, detailing that Pittsburgh has paid Alex Highsmith and could be paying Nick Herbig next offseason. If the Steelers keep Herbig on the roster, Fowler says it will be hard for the team to commit three big contracts to one position.
Still, Watt being the odd man out seems like a wild outcome. However, Fowler points to the defender’s age (32 in October) and guaranteed salary ($32 million over the next two seasons) as reasons he could be the player Pittsburgh parts ways with.
If that happens, it would leave plenty of fans frustrated. Watt, who has 115 career sacks, is already a franchise legend. Parting ways with him will not go over well unless he’s playing nothing like himself.
Fowler acknowledged that the Steelers tend to value their legends more than most franchises, which makes a trade less likely, but other teams in the league still think Pittsburgh would consider it.
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