{"id":49861,"date":"2025-05-21T03:00:56","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T03:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=49861"},"modified":"2025-05-21T03:00:56","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T03:00:56","slug":"steelers-trade-idea-ends-t-j-watt-era-completes-super-bowl-favorite-eagles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=49861","title":{"rendered":"Steelers Trade Idea Ends T.J. Watt Era, Completes Super Bowl Favorite Eagles.."},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"post-featured-container-id\">\n<div id=\"post-featured\" class=\"wp-caption \">\n<div class=\"h-responsive\">\n<figure class=\"h-responsive__inner\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-featured-image size-featured-image wp-post-image\" src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-2193485678-e1747776472636.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 95vw, 780px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-2193485678-e1747776472636.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780 780w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-2193485678-e1747776472636.jpg?quality=15&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-2193485678-e1747776472636.jpg?quality=35&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1350 1350w\" alt=\"T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers\" width=\"780\" height=\"440\" data-dom-ready-time=\"160\" data-img-load-time=\"812\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"caption-credit\">Getty<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"c-post-image-caption-text\">T.J. Watt during a playoff game against the Ravens.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>There are few NFL teams in a worse position than the\u00a0Pittsburgh Steelers.\u00a0It\u2019s one thing to actively be rebuilding, but the Steelers have yet to embrace that idea, remaining stuck in limbo as they drift between quarterback projects and year after year of fringe playoff contention and first round exits.<\/p>\n<p>Now they\u2019ve reached a potential turning point, with a brutal schedule ahead of them \u2013 featuring a bye in Week 5 and a loaded second half \u2013 and extension talks with superstar Edge\u00a0T.J. Watt\u00a0not progressing well.<\/p>\n<p>Watt posted a cryptic photo of himself giving a two-finger peace sign on his Instagram story earlier this offseason, and there hasn\u2019t been positive traction since. Watt is set to earn just over $30 million this year per Over The Cap, but with\u00a0Myles Garrett\u2019s\u00a0recent extension with the\u00a0Cleveland Browns, he\u2019s likely asking for a new salary comparable to his counterpart\u2019s $40 million average.<\/p>\n<p>As much as the Steeler faithful would love to keep Watt in the Black and Gold for life, trading him now could jumpstart a sorely needed roster reset. Pittsburgh has already stockpiled 12 Draft Picks for 2026, and Watt would fetch even more in the early rounds.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>The Rich Get Richer<\/h2>\n<p>Any team that fancies itself a Super Bowl contender would greatly improve their chances with a three-time NFL sack leader wearing one of their jerseys. It just so happens that one proven squad could use his help in their title defense.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0Philadelphia Eagles\u00a0have much more cap dedicated to the offensive side of the ball, and one of the few holes on their current roster is up front. With\u00a0Brandon Graham\u00a0off to retirement,\u00a0Milton Williams\u00a0lured away by the\u00a0New England Patriots,\u00a0and\u00a0Josh Sweat\u00a0likewise gone to the\u00a0Arizona Cardinals,\u00a0the pass rush lacks any veteran experience outside of\u00a0Jalen Carter.<\/p>\n<p>Philly has just under $26 million in cap space, so they wouldn\u2019t need to free up much to make this happen. Likewise, they have $76 million freed up in 2027, giving them plenty of flexibility to give Watt his desired new contract.<\/p>\n<p>But getting him on board is the first step, and to do so, the Eagles will have to sacrifice some draft capital. Because of Watt\u2019s age, he may not be worth a 1st-round pick anymore. A 2026 2nd round selection, or a package featuring a 3rd and a 5th round pick, is a more realistic expectation, and one that Philly can easily offer up. They hold 12 picks as well, including one 2nd Rounder, a conditional 3rd that could become a 2nd, two guaranteed 3rds, and three guaranteed 5ths.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Future Outlook for Both Teams<\/h2>\n<p>If the Steelers accept, they can fully devote the upcoming year to tanking, selling off other vets and evaluating the talent they took in this year\u2019s draft. A 41-year-old\u00a0Aaron Rodgers\u00a0is highly unlikely to change much in their current trajectory \u2013 not with a suspect secondary, ineffective o-line, and serious questions with receiver depth.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the Eagles would cement themselves as favorites to defend their title and land a leader to replace Graham\u2019s role on their defense, all while not sacrificing an enormous part of their young future.<\/p>\n<p>Watt, who never won a playoff game in Pittsburgh, should be revitalized after joining the Birds\u2019 Championship culture.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Getty T.J. Watt during a playoff game against the Ravens. There are few NFL teams in a worse position than the\u00a0Pittsburgh Steelers.\u00a0It\u2019s one thing to actively be&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":49865,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Steelers Trade Idea Ends T.J. 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