Reporters questioning Steelers' alleged stance on trading T.J. Watt

Multiple reports shared during the opening week of July insisted that the Pittsburgh Steelers trading unsettled pass-rusher T.J. Watt this summer isn't "on the radar" and is "not gonna happen" amid his desire for a lucrative contract extension. 

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk is among NFL insiders who aren't necessarily buying what people within the Steelers may be selling as it pertains to Watt's status. 

"...NFL Media pushed the idea that [the Steelers] have no intention to trade T.J. Watt, which is often the precursor to a trade," Florio explained during a Wednesday appearance on Pittsburgh sports radio station 93.7 The Fan, per Joe Clark of Steelers Depot. "If you think about it, if a team is truly regarding a player as untouchable, they don't say 'no intention.' They say, 'Are you crazy? Are you crazy to even suggest that the player would be available?' They're never gonna say in Kansas City they have no intention to trade Patrick Mahomes. They would say, 'You're nuts for suggesting it.'"

Florio was referencing how NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on June 30 that the Steelers "have no intention"/do not "intend to move" Watt ahead of the upcoming season. However, it was later said that "nothing is off the table" regarding the Watt-Steelers situation. 

Watt is signed through the 2025 campaign but presumably is looking for a pay raise that would match or better the value of the four-year, $160M extension that included $123.5M guaranteed that Myles Garrett signed to stay with the Cleveland Browns earlier in the offseason. The amount of guaranteed money Watt wants attached to his new deal could go up if either Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys or Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals inks an extension before the Steelers lock their star down. 

According to Cayden Steele of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan said during a midweek appearance on SportsRadio 94WIP out of Philadelphia that the Steelers "would trade Watt to the Eagles for edge-rusher Nolan Smith and a late-round draft pick." Smith is 24 years old, while Watt will turn 31 in October. 

Fillipponi mentioned during the segment that Pittsburgh agreeing to acquire cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a pick swap shows the Steelers could get creative if they don't want to match Watt's financial asking price. 

Pittsburgh players are due to report for training camp on July 23, so there's still plenty of time for the Steelers and Watt to work things out before alarm bells begin to sound. That said, multiple in-the-know individuals seem to think the Steelers haven't slammed the door shut on possibly trading Watt before September.