NFL Trade Rumors: Pittsburgh Steelers and T.J. Watt Negotiating Extension

The Pittsburgh Steelers may be struggling to keep their biggest star happy. Speaking on Good Morning Football, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport posited that contract negotiations between the Steelers and All-Pro edge rusher T.J. Watt aren't progressing smoothly.

From @GMFB: Evaluating TJ Watt’s cryptic instagram post. pic.twitter.com/MjaIzArgeA
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 10, 2025

Watt got the rumor mill swirling yesterday with a cryptic Instagram post that depicted the seven-time Pro Bowler waving the peace sign following a game. Many interpreted the gesture as a symbolic wave goodbye to the only franchise he has ever played for.

Oh Boy: TJ Watt just posted this on his IG story...😳

Watt is seeking an extension with only one year left on his contract. pic.twitter.com/qwKojQtvTR
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 9, 2025

Watt is in the final year of a four-year, $112 million contract and has witnessed the market for edge rushers explode in recent years. Myles Garrett, his rival on the Cleveland Browns, just signed a four-year, $160 million extension that briefly made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league.

Watt is a four-time first-team All-Pro and is arguably the most dominant defender in the league. He has led the league in sacks in three of the past five seasons, and his 108.0 sacks and 126 tackles for loss are both the most of any player since he entered the league as a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.

The only complicating factor in Watt's contract negotiations is his age. He'll turn 31 years old in October, and it's possible his best years are behind him. His 11.5 sacks in 2024 were his fewest over a full season since his rookie year.

Watt's production unquestionably remains elite, and he is already a well-established icon in Steelers lore. Trading him, even for a package that includes multiple first-round picks, should be unthinkable for such a consistently competitive franchise. For the sake of the team and its fans, the Steelers should resist the urge to play hardball.

If the Steelers are skeptical of Watt's ability to remain dominant into his mid-thirties, they could theoretically offer him a shorter-term deal in the neighborhood of three years. Still, one thing is for certain: Watt deserves to become the league's highest-paid defender.