Steelers Are Throwing Big Money Around — But Is T.J. Watt About to Get Sidelined?
The Steelers are making some serious moves this offseason — they just locked down veteran cornerback Jalen Ramsey with a fat $26.6 million paycheck and handed tight end Jonnu Smith a $12 million extension. That’s a ton of cash flying out the door.
But here’s the catch: T.J. Watt, their star pass rusher and arguably their best player, still hasn’t signed a new contract. With so much money already committed, fitting Watt’s payday into the budget is starting to look tricky. And when the cap gets tight, even the best players can become trade rumors.
League insiders say most teams don’t think the Steelers will actually trade Watt — but talk’s heating up. Detroit Lions, who’ve been itching to add a pass rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson, have popped up as a favorite landing spot. Why? Because the Lions have plenty of cap space (over $40 million) and a real shot at making a splash to push them deeper into playoff contention.
Let’s talk Watt’s game — dude’s still an absolute beast. Last season, he racked up 12 sacks, 6 forced fumbles (tops among edge rushers), and a monster Pro Football Focus grade. He’s not just a sack machine; he’s a relentless force on both pass rush and run defense. Plus, with 108 career sacks and multiple All-Pro honors, Watt’s still at the top of his game.
Detroit’s been searching for a strong pass-rush partner to Hutchinson for years. They tried signing Za’Darius Smith and even attempted a draft-day trade to pick up more edge help. Now, with Watt potentially on the market, a blockbuster trade could make a lot of sense for them.
The Steelers haven’t publicly said they’re shopping Watt, but with Ramsey and Smith eating up big chunks of their salary cap, the Steelers might have no choice but to rethink their roster. Could Watt get moved to clear room for younger, cheaper talent? It’s starting to feel less like a “maybe” and more like a possibility.
Bottom line: T.J. Watt in Detroit? It’s not just fantasy anymore. The Lions have the cap space, the roster, and the motivation to pull off a game-changing trade. If GM Brad Holmes makes that call, Detroit could flip from playoff hopeful to real title contender — and Watt could be the missing piece.
Steelers Flexin’ the Wallet — Is T.J. Watt on the Chopping Block?
