Steelers Get Direct Warning From Former NFL Player Amid Growing TJ Watt Trade Rumors

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been busy this offseason, making a bunch of big, bold moves and bringing in a number of fresh faces in an effort to rejuvenate the roster. These changes have quickly become a major topic of conversation, drawing attention from everyone across the league. While the huge trades and acquisitions have made headlines, it’s actually some of the internal moves within the organization that are shaping up to be the most important and impactful decisions of the Steelers’ offseason.

One of these big internal decisions for the Steelers this offseason is the ongoing contract negotiations with star edge rusher, TJ Watt. With just one year remaining on his current deal, discussions about a possible extension have been underway for some time. However, the process appears to be far from smooth, as no agreement has been reached and Watt has yet to officially re-sign. This uncertainty has sparked trade rumors, which are only growing by the day. 

Recently, former NFL star LeSean McCoy weighed in on the situation on a recent episode of The Facility, making it clear that he believes it would be a huge mistake for the Steelers to let Watt go, emphasizing just how valuable he is to the team. 

"Why would you move off of one of the best defensive players that we've ever seen in football, let alone one of the best defensive players you've ever seen?... I hate this, that they play this game," McCoy said. "Now, I always think that maybe it's just the NFL. When I say the NFL, a lot of great players have to wait for their money, right?"

McCoy shares these thoughts, much like a lot of fans within Steeler Nation, as well as around the league. Watt has been a key piece of the Steelers’ defense for years and is widely thought of as one of the most dominant defensive players in the NFL. That’s why it’s concerning to some fans that a new deal hasn’t been finalized yet, especially with training camp and the regular season fast approaching. 

Still, McCoy urged people not to panic, pointing out that Watt wouldn’t be the first star player to holdout during negotiations. He explained that several elite players in recent years have waited things out and ultimately received the large contracts they were seeking.

"Aaron Donald, I can't think of a better defensive player in history than Aaron Donald and he had to wait to get his money... Myles Garrett had to threaten the Browns and say, 'Listen, I need to go to a winning team.' And then you know what they did, they came with that big fat check," McCoy continued. "So you know what? Steelers, [Mike] Tomlin, I ain't mad at y'all, because this is how it goes."

In fact, this isn't the first time Watt has found himself in this type of situation. When he signed his previous extension with the Steelers back in 2021, negotiations led right up until just before the start of the regular season. Despite the late timing, the two sides reached an agreement, and Watt walked away with a massive deal that made him the highest paid defensive player in the NFL at the time. If Watt and the Steelers can come to terms again, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him land another record-setting deal that reflects both his talent and impact on the team.

The Steelers Have A Division Rival To Partially Blame

One of the biggest reasons for the current holdup in Watt’s contract negotiations appears to be the massive deal division rival Myles Garrett signed earlier this offseason. Reports have indicated that while there is an offer on the table for Watt, it falls short of his financial expectations. Watt is reportedly aiming to either match or exceed Garrett’s contract terms. Given the similarities between the two star edge rushers, and the fact that Watt has posted stronger stats in several key areas, it’s understandable why he would want a deal that reflects his value and production accordingly.

With contract talks reportedly not progressing smoothly, it's no surprise that trade rumors around Watt have started to gain traction. Still, many fans share McCoy’s belief that trading away a player of Watt’s caliber, especially for a low return, would be a major mistake.