Pittsburgh Steelers standout linebacker, TJ Watt, recently sparked online speculation with a mysterious Instagram post. Some interpreted it as an indication that Watt might depart from Pittsburgh in 2025. Despite Watt not commenting on the trade rumors, it hasn’t stopped people from speculating about his future in Pittsburgh. Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger shared his opinion on whether the Steelers should work to retain Watt.
On Tuesday, during his podcast Footbahlin discussing the Steelers’ quarterback dilemma, Roethlisberger referenced a speculative trade that had been suggested between the San Francisco 49ers and the Steelers. In this situation, the quarterback-needy Steelers would acquire Brock Purdy, while the 49ers would receive Watt. It’s an unlikely notion, yet it raises a thought-provoking question: might the Steelers conclude that offering Watt a larger contract isn’t worth the hassle, making the linebacker potential trade material to address Pittsburgh’s other concerns?
One reason that has been suggested for why Watt might want to depart is that the Steelers lack a reliable starting quarterback ready for the upcoming season. When inquired whether the Steelers ought to consider trading Watt, Roethlisberger offered a straightforward reply.
“Yeah, I don’t believe that should occur; you need to secure a quarterback,” said Roethlisberger. “I believe you cannot eliminate TJ by any means.”
The quarterback situation for the Steelers is beginning to look bleak. It’s not an appealing image for a franchise to be desperately pursuing veterans like Aaron Rodgers during free agency. It appears that the issue is beginning to affect other parts of the Steelers roster and damaging morale.
If Watt’s primary complaint about the Steelers at this moment is that Pittsburgh lacks a dependable starting quarterback, it’s difficult to fault him. Although the Steelers appeared to be ready to wait for Rodgers to reach a decision, the delay might be affecting them in ways the team didn’t foresee.
Leaving aside the quarterback drama, contract problems have been pointed out as a significant reason why Watt might seek to exit Pittsburgh. After star defensive lineman Myles Garrett signed a contract extension with the Cleveland Browns, the Steelers’ divisional rivals, he became the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL. The Garrett agreement might have set a new standard for the demands of defensive players.
If Watt is seeking a contract similar to Garrett’s, the Steelers might conclude they can’t retain the linebacker and that trading him could yield the highest value. The Steelers may not have anticipated that Watt would create a problem heading into 2025, and now that issues have arisen, the team is urgently seeking a resolution. If the Steelers were to lose Watt, it could mean trouble for the defense that is already having issues.
Although the Steelers’ quarterback situation has attracted significant media focus, the team’s other challenges are equally urgent. The defensive line of the Steelers is regarded as another significant problem for the team. Losing Watt would significantly harm Pittsburgh’s already depleted front seven.
Steelers Still Have Several Missing Pieces
The Steelers have spent much of their offseason so far bolstering their offense, with additions like star wide receiver DK Metcalf. With such heavy investments in the offense, the Steelers will need a high-caliber quarterback to tie it all together. Until the quarterback situation is dealt with, everything else will likely remain secondary. Although the scenario in which the Steelers land Purdy is a longshot, it could hint at a larger idea: if Watt is not extended by the Steelers, he could be used to try and land the Steelers a new signal-caller.