Steelers predicted to trade T.J. Watt to ensure Nick Herbig extension

T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on as he stretches prior to an NFL Football game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a big decision to make regarding edge rusher Nick Herbig. The ascending edge rusher is set to hit free agency in 2027, and the Steelers are already paying big money to T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.

Herbig’s talent and potential are both evident, though, and Pittsburgh would be rightfully criticized if it let him walk out the door. Because of this, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler proposes that the Steelers should consider trading Watt, and he notes that some teams could see the Steelers making the move.

“If the Steelers end up signing Herbig long term, having three large contracts allocated to one position is a tough proposition,” Fowler writes. “Watt, for all his greatness, turns 32 in October and has guaranteed salaries of $32 million in both 2026 and 2027… Watt is a legacy player, something Pittsburgh values more than most. But some teams could see Pittsburgh at least considering moving on from him.”

Watt has a cap hit of $42 million and a dead cap hit of $94 million in 2026. The Steelers aren’t paying a quarterback big money, so it’s a hit they could theoretically take. The dead cap number drops to $52 million in 2027.

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