T.J. Watt’s future with the Pittsburgh Steelers has never been more uncertain.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the superstar edge rusher is unhappy with his current contract situation, and teams around the league have been discussing the possibility of trading for him.
Though the Steelers have yet to show any type of willingness to trade Watt, Schefter added that the chances of Watt getting traded have increased after Pittsburgh and the Miami Dolphins blockbuster trade on Monday that included Jalen Ramsey, Jonnu Smith, and Minkah Fitzpatrick.
If the Steelers decide to move on from Watt, For the Win’s Cory Woodroof proposes a trade that would send the seven-time Pro Bowler to the Green Bay Packers.
Woodroof’s hypothetical package has Pittsburgh receiving a 2026 second-round pick and edge rusher Lukas Van Ness for Watt.
Returning Watt to Wisconsin (where he played college ball) would be a fun way for the pass-rusher’s career to end. Green Bay could also send its 2023 first-round defensive end Lukas Van Ness back to Pittsburgh to make this trade feasible for the Steelers.
Watt would elevate the Packers into a legitimate Super Bowl contender. The 30-year-old would form a dynamic pass-rushing duo with Rashan Gary and take Green Bay’s defense to another level.
For the Steelers, acquiring a second-round pick and Van Ness isn’t an awful return. Van Ness has been disappointing to start his career, but he could be in for a long-awaited breakout season with a change of scenery in Pittsburgh.
Overall, Watt is worth multiple first-round picks, and it’s unlikely that a team will give up that much for the aging pass rusher. So, the Steelers should just sign their defensive cornerstone to a long-term deal and end the drama.
MORE: NFL teams gearing up to pursue T.J. Watt trade with Steelers, says insider
