Steelers' T.J. Watt could make controversial move amid contract standoff

As of the first day of July, it certainly seems as if the Pittsburgh Steelers are nowhere close to coming to an agreement on a contract extension with unsettled pass-rusher T.J. Watt. 

On Monday, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that Pittsburgh "doesn't intend to" trade Watt ahead of the upcoming season. During Tuesday's edition of ESPN Radio's "Unsportsmanlike" program, NFL insider Adam Schefter shared that Watt "absolutely" could follow in the footsteps of Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns by going public with a trade request. 

"When there's trade talk that's coming out, obviously you know it's out there," Schefter explained, as shared by Josh Carney of Steelers Depot. "So if on the first day of training camp they didn't get a deal done and T.J. Watt says...'I don't trust this organization to get a deal done and I wanna be moved,' that would not be a popular statement in the city of Pittsburgh. That wouldn't go over real, real well. I don't think fans would like that."

Steelers players are due to report for training camp on July 23.

After the 2024 Browns went 3-14, Garrett told just about anybody who would listen during a media tour that he wanted to be traded to an a Super Bowl contender. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam reportedly refused "to even discuss a trade," and Garrett ultimately accepted a four-year, $160M contract extension that included $123.5M guaranteed and made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history at that time. 

Unlike Garrett, Watt allegedly has made it known that "he wants to be a Steeler for life." He has played only for Pittsburgh since he entered the league via the 2017 draft.

Watt is signed through the 2025 season, so the Steelers could dare him to threaten to forfeit money by sitting games out and also remind him that they could retain his rights for 2026 via the franchise tag. During Tuesday's episode of the ESPN "Get Up" program, reporter Jeremy Fowler indicated the situation won't get that ugly. Fowler also said that "other teams do not expect Watt to be traded" before he puts pen to paper on his desired extension with the Steelers. 

Logic suggests Pittsburgh didn't add 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers, wide receiver DK Metcalf, cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith to the roster this offseason to then move on from Watt before September. That said, it remains to be seen if Watt would risk becoming unpopular among some Pittsburgh supporters by using a trade request as a negotiating tactic later this summer.