Pittsburgh radio host's proposed Eagles-T.J. Watt trade will intrigue fans

Would that offer be good enough for the Eagles to accept?

In this fictional scenario, Fillipponi has the Eagles making that offer, but let's think about it.

Watt is a seven-time Pro Bowl, five-time All-Pro, and 2021 Defensive Player of the Year. He's led the NFL in sacks three times in his eight seasons. The fact that the Steelers got him with the 30th overall pick is insane for how good he is.

If the Eagles got Watt, the good news is they get a once in a generational pass rusher the team has been missing for awhile. Josh Sweat was their leading sacker at eight, which isn't terrible, but having at least one 10-plus sack player would be nice. Watt would guarantee that for at least the next five years, if not longer.

This trade, however, would go against everything the Eagles have valued in this offer: youth and financial stability. Watt is going to command about $40 million per year, similar to Myles Garrett, which is something Philadelphia could work on getting, but it would cost them to mortgage the future. Guys like Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, Reed Blankenship, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean may not see the paydays they were hoping for, and the Eagles have to let them walk.

Sure, the Eagles would be instant Super Bowl contenders this year, but next offseason would see just as much, if not more, turnover of the roster than this offseason. Philadelphia would be back at signing just one-year deals for free agents and recycling through the draft for starters when they might not be ready.

Another thing is that getting rid of a developing edge rusher like Smith isn't as easy a decision to make. He's gotten better and has a chance to be the number one pass rusher on the team in 2025. More pressure would be on Jalyx Hunt to be the guy the franchise hopes for him to be.

The question Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has to ask himself is whether he genuinely wants to go all in now with Watt or trust the young players to develop. That is a risky call to make and might be too hard to make with the plethora of young talent this roster currently has.