As Pittsburgh Steelers fans are trying to recover from the latest trade shockwave to hit the Steel City, one NFL writer has tabbed a veteran fan-favorite defender as a potential trade target in 2026.
Earlier in the week, Nate Davis of USA TODAY shared 12 NFL players who were linked as potential trade targets, which included Steelers All-Pro edge rusher T.J. Watt.
"No way, you say?" Davis wrote. "Yes, admittedly, exporting a face of the franchise in the middle of a season – and effectively waving the white flag – would be far from a typical Steelers move. But walk with me here (we're now Payton Tolle fans, too). Watt will turn 32 on Oct. 11. Pittsburgh has already extended Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig, both much younger pass rushers than Watt.
Porter just got sent packing. And, if the Steelers fall off the playoff pace – or even if they don’t – they need to have an eye on 2027 and the likelihood that it could be rebuild territory or, at the very least, the right time to target the young franchise quarterback they’ve been unable to obtain since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement. Moving a player of Watt’s caliber and the return he would command could be the best chip GM Omar Khan has if he opts to accrue draft capital in 2027. Such a move would also provide Khan cap relief given Watt's $32 million base salary, both this year and next, is guaranteed."
It's worth mentioning that Highsmith's four-year extension was signed back in 2023 and currently runs through the 2027 season, which doesn't exactly make it easier to move on from Watt in the long-term aspect. This is especially true when considering that Highsmith will likely be looking for a huge payday following the 2026 season.
It does feel highly unlikely that the Steelers would ever trade Watt, but so did moving on from Joey Porter Jr. less than 24 hours before the start of the Week 4 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including injury updates and trade rumors during Pittsburgh's 2026 season, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers' T.J. Watt surprisingly linked as potential trade target
