TJ Watt contract update: Tom Pelissero reveals why trade does not make sense for Steelers

As the Pittsburgh Steelers continue their busy offseason, questions remain about TJ Watt’s contract situation. The star pass rusher is searching for a new deal, and rumors continue to swirl.

However, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said a trade likely isn’t an option for the Steelers as Watt enters the final year of his current contract, but as the pass-rush market shifts – thanks in large part to Myles Garrett’s massive deal and a similar one likely coming for Micah Parsons – Watt is also looking for a fresh deal. Pelissero said he expects the number to be even bigger than Garrett’s $40 million per year.

If the two sides can’t come to an agreement, though, Pelissero said a trade likely wouldn’t be in the cards. For starters, he argued it would go against the roster philosophy the Steelers used this offseason, leaning on veteran players via trades and free agency. But there’s also the question about what return Pittsburgh would get.

“Do I anticipate that TJ Watt gets traded? No,” Pelissero said Thursday on The Rich Eisen Show. “Never say never in the NFL in 2025. We’ve seen wilder things than this happen, particularly, again, with older players. But you have to ask yourself this. In an offseason where they have absolutely gone all-in on veteran players who are here to win now … trading away TJ Watt would be so antithetical to the way that you are building this roster. It wouldn’t make sense.

“But the other part of it is, even if you get to a point you’re like, we’re at a stalemate. What can you get at this point for TJ Watt? For one thing, a 2026 draft pick doesn’t help you. But even if you were getting a 2026 draft pick, is somebody giving up a first-round pick and more for TJ Watt?”

Pelissero drew parallels between Watt’s situation and Trey Hendrickson’s with the Cincinnati Bengals. Last year’s sacks leader, he is searching for a new contract, although teammates Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins notably received lucrative deals. Hendrickson requested a trade, but Cincinnati struggled to find a suitor willing to give a first-round pick.

If that’s the case with last year’s leader in sacks, Pelissero argued the Steelers likely wouldn’t be in position to get a first-rounder for Watt. As a result, he’s likely staying in Pittsburgh – and in line for a huge payday.

“Again, never say never, but when the Bengals were – at Trey Hendrickson’s request – shopping Trey Hendrickson earlier this offseason, they were asking for a first-round pick,” Pelissero said. “They weren’t being offered a first-round pick for a guy who led the league in sacks last year and has like 35 sacks over the past two seasons. They’re almost the exact same age, they both want a new contract. Trey Hendrickson’s been asking for less than TJ Watt has been asking for and they didn’t get offered a one. That really raises the question, then … could the Steelers even get a first-round pick? If you’re offered a second or something – which, again, it’s a 2026 second. That doesn’t help you when you’re all-in in 2025. Would it even make sense to consider it? So I wouldn’t rule anything out.

“There’s a lot of different ways this can go. Certainly, you know that TJ Watt is frustrated at this point that things are not worked out here. What do I see being the most likely way that this sorts itself out sometime between now and Sept. 8, I think, is their opener? They end up getting a deal done with TJ Watt. When does that happen? What do the numbers look like? All I would tell you, Rich, is it is going to be big money. And I do believe – again, pending any other deals to get done between now and then – I believe we’re going to see a reset in the edge market again.”