Is T.J. Watt’s Next Big Move About to Shock the Football World?

The question becomes whether they’d trade him for immediate help, or whether the play would be to stockpile picks with the goal of trying to get in position to draft a new franchise quarterback in 2026.

Yes, the Steelers reportedly have “no intention” to trade him. More often than not, the use of that two-word phrase becomes a precursor to a deal.With Watt, it’s too early to tell what will happen. No one should be surprised by any outcome.The problem is that the two sides are, we’re told, nowhere close on a new deal. Watt, one of the very best defensive players is the game, is ready for any outcome and not afraid to push the issue.The Steelers find themselves stuck in a precarious position that could reshape their entire future. While they’ve opened the wallet wide for new talent, the future of their star linebacker T.J. Watt hangs in a murky limbo. Despite assurances that trading Watt isn’t on the table, history tells us those words often just set the stage for the unexpected. Both sides seem locked in a standoff, far from a fresh contract, and Watt—arguably one of the most dominant defenders in the league—isn’t backing down quietly. This standoff raises a burning question: is Pittsburgh willing to part ways with a cornerstone player to fuel a broader rebuild, perhaps aiming to secure a franchise quarterback in 2026? As the Steelers scramble to balance immediate gains against long-term stability—shelling out big bucks on veterans like DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey, while dangling hope for Aaron Rodgers—they face a critical crossroads. Do they hold onto Watt at all costs, or flip him for future draft capital, betting on a new era beyond their current playoff drought? Either way, the ripples of this saga will echo far beyond the season. LEARN MORECould that push him out of Pittsburgh? In an offseason that has been all about upgrading a one-and-done (at best) roster, removing Watt won’t do much to deliver the franchise’s first playoff win since 2016 — one year before he arrived via round one.

That’s the delicate balance the Steelers need to strike. They’ve shown an unprecedented level of desperation this offseason, from paying market value to DK Metcalf to waiting indefinitely for an aging Hall of Famer in Aaron Rodgers to trading for, and paying, Jalen Ramsey. But the franchise will exist beyond 2025. They need a young quarterback. If they could flip Watt for the ammo that helps them get the successor to Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger, maybe they should.Again, it won’t help them this year. Which could cause Rodgers to bristle. Still, if they’re reluctant to give Watt a Myles Garrett-level deal, their best play could be to trade them to someone who gladly will.With the Steelers paying big money to a couple of strangers to the team while dragging their feet as to face-of-the-franchise linebacker T.J. Watt, his football future is far from clear.Someone with a young franchise quarterback and a willingness to go all in, right now.