Getty
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, like the other 31 teams across the NFL, are preparing for what could be a very active free agency period once it begins on March 11.
The Steelers are set to have 27 players hit free agency, including names like Aaron Rodgers, Isaac Seumalo, Calvin Austin and others.
They could also make potential cuts for cap purposes, despite the team currently ranking with the eighth-most cap space in the league at $43 million under the cap, according to Spotrac.
However, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport doesn’t rule out Pittsburgh making trades either, including one involving star edge rusher T.J. Watt.
Steelers Trade Idea Sends T.J. Watt To 49ers
In a recent trade proposal, Davenport outlined a scenario in which the Steelers move on from one of the franchise’s most recognizable players, sending him to the San Francisco 49ers.
In the proposed deal, the 49ers would receive edge rusher T.J. Watt and a 2027 third-round pick, while the Steelers would receive a 2027 first-round pick.
“There was a time when the idea of trading edge-rusher T.J. Watt would seem like blasphemy in the Steel City,” Davenport wrote. “But Watt is coming off an injury-marred season in which he logged the second-fewest sacks of his career, he turns 32 in October and fellow edge-rusher Nick Herbig is entering a contract year.”
While Watt has long been viewed as untouchable in Pittsburgh, those factors could at least open the door for the team to gauge interest around the league.
During a radio appearance, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Ray Fittipaldo suggested the Steelers could quietly explore the idea, though finding a team willing to absorb Watt’s contract might not be easy.
“I do think Omar will at least throw some feelers out there and see if anyone is interested in T.J., but it’s a big ticket,” Fittipaldo said. “That contract is structured in such a way that it’s 42 million each and every year. I can count on one hand the number of teams who are probably willing to do that.”
49ers Could Be Logical Landing Spot for T.J. Watt
San Francisco has remained firmly in win-now mode in recent seasons, and pass rush has quietly become a concern for the team.
The 49ers finished dead last in the NFL in sacks last season, while their top two pass rushers are both returning from ACL injuries. Adding a player like Watt would immediately boost the team’s defensive front, Davenport believes.
Financially, however, the timing of a potential deal could play a major role.
Davenport noted that if the Steelers waited until after June 1 to trade Watt, the amount of money the team saves under the cap in 2026 would increase significantly.
“The key to this deal could be patience—if the Steelers wait until after June 1 to trade Watt, the amount of money the team saves under the cap in 2026 balloons from $12 million to $32 million,” Davenport wrote.
“The question is whether that extra $20 million in wiggle room would be worth waiting until next year to receive pick compensation.”
Watt signed a three-year, $123 million extension with the Steelers last year. His 2025 season was less than stellar, however. But he’s proven when healthy, he’s one of the best in the league.
Since his second season in the league, Watt has consistently recorded double-digit sacks. The only exception came in 2022 when he missed seven games. Over the following two seasons, he recorded 30.5 sacks before finishing with just seven in 2025 while missing three games.
While there has been no indication the Steelers are actively shopping Watt, trade scenarios like this highlight the type of decisions Pittsburgh could consider under new head coach Mike McCarthy.
Shane Shoemaker Shane Shoemaker is a sports journalist covering college football and the NFL for Heavy.com. His work has also appeared in The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, USA TODAY, and ClutchPoints, along with high school sports coverage for the Marion Tribune. More about Shane Shoemaker
More Heavy on Steelers
Loading more stories