TJ Watt Speculation after Pickens trade (Nothing Official)

[BillsShredder83]

44 minutes ago, Jauronimo said:

Moving Watt means they're going for a full rebuild.  The timing of a rebuild makes no sense considering they just signed DK and didn't draft a QB.

at this point, i think itd be kinda smart to go mini rebuild.  keep your core young guys, trade off an older expensive player (but a beast) for a large haul... next year you are all set for a QB to come in and be a true competitor team.  you can bottom out a bit this year with their QB situation, kinda like a backwards Burrow & landing Jamar Chase!  it sucks to throw away a season, but they did it and not much they can do to fix QB situation.

 

Jets were kinda in a spot similar to this when they got Rodgers.  Had they stood pat, kept their picks, that team felt stacked.... but they blew their wad on Rodgers, completely jacked up their own window.... AND FOR WHAAAAAT?

 

Would be definition insanity for Steelers to have seen that, and literally try same thing with the same QB but 2 years older + injured + mentally checked out (?)

47 minutes ago, SCBills said:

I think it does, just not sure if they have the stomach for it. 
 

This draft was trash at QB, but early indications are that next year could

be the opposite.

 

Build up draft capital, finally accept a losing season and then your QB of the future that comes into a situation with a WR1 already in the building. 
 

That team is getting old in alot of places and, at some point, you can’t just keep running it back with QB retreads and compete for a Wild Card and inevitable

beatdown at the hands of the Bills, Chiefs or Ravens in the Playoffs. 

Build draft capital + "Finally accept a losing season"

 

So much this.  It shouldnt be more clear anywhere than on a Bills board, we saw the 15year drought of 7-9.  Bottoming out can be a real blessing if it means opening an extended window, and theyd be serious competitors IMO

[QCity]

10 minutes ago, MikePJ76 said:

Sal had a Pittsburgh media guy on a few minutes ago.  He said watt is not going anywhere and they are trying to get a deal done with him before parsons gets his in Dallas.

 

he said Tomlin and Rooney consider watt a one helmet guy.

 

This. The writing was on the wall for Pickens as soon as they traded for DK. Watt isn't going anywhere.

[KingBoots8]

Rodgers on the phone with Lazard and the Steelers already 😂

[BillsFan4]

18 minutes ago, BullBuchanan said:

Pickens was a cancer to the team. Expect them to make a move for a #2. They're in win-now mode. Cooper, Allen, Davis and others are available.

Yeah he had some pretty public spats with coaches last year. This move has nothing to do with rebuilding and everything to do with recouping assets for a player they weren’t going to re-sign and getting him out of the locker room.

 

Quote

But in 2024, Pickens made headlines as he clashed with the Steelers’ coaching staff. During a Week 5 Sunday night game against the Cowboys, Pickens sported eye black stickers that read “OPEN F—ING ALWAYS” to protest his lack of production in the early part of the season. He saw a season-low 34 offensive snaps in that game.

 

After Pickens was called for two unsportsmanlike penalties in Week 13, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said during a news conference that the receiver needed to “grow up.”Pickens missed the next three games because of injury, but the next game for which he was active, he showed up late on Christmas Day against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Quote

Pickens isn’t like other players. Repeatedly, his on-field antics and enigmatic personality proved problematic. Last year alone, he sported the previously mentioned eyeblack, got into a postgame scuffle with Cleveland Browns defensive back Greg Newsome II and received multiple unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against the Cincinnati Bengals.

 

Though Pickens’ talent is undeniable and he has the potential to be one of the league’s top receivers, it became clear that the Steelers were not planning to extend him. Rather than risk a hold in during training camp and a messy 2025 season, the team chose to cut bait.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6310136/2025/05/07/cowboys-george-pickens-steelers-trade/

[Bullfrog]

Honestly I love T.J Watt but after the draft we just had and the signing of Bosa I don't see him a fit. He wants a new contract and he is getting to the point where players start declining. His body has taken some abuse. Throw in the draft capital it would take I don't see it as a possibility.

 

On Madden it would be epic though.

[MasterStrategist]

<1% chance he's traded IMO.  Just from some media/close friends to the team here in Pitt

[DCofNC]

I don’t know where you guys have been, Steeler fans are convinced they stole their next Big Ben in the 6th round and are competing for a title this year.

 

It’s fun to watch other teams in the same drought era delusional states that was here for years.

[RoscoeParrish]

20 minutes ago, BillsShredder83 said:

at this point, i think itd be kinda smart to go mini rebuild.  keep your core young guys, trade off an older expensive player (but a beast) for a large haul... next year you are all set for a QB to come in and be a true competitor team.  you can bottom out a bit this year with their QB situation, kinda like a backwards Burrow & landing Jamar Chase!  it sucks to throw away a season, but they did it and not much they can do to fix QB situation.

 

Jets were kinda in a spot similar to this when they got Rodgers.  Had they stood pat, kept their picks, that team felt stacked.... but they blew their wad on Rodgers, completely jacked up their own window.... AND FOR WHAAAAAT?

 

Would be definition insanity for Steelers to have seen that, and literally try same thing with the same QB but 2 years older + injured + mentally checked out (?)

Build draft capital + "Finally accept a losing season"

 

So much this.  It shouldnt be more clear anywhere than on a Bills board, we saw the 15year drought of 7-9.  Bottoming out can be a real blessing if it means opening an extended window, and theyd be serious competitors IMO

They just traded away a core young guy for picks.

 

I think there’s some merit to bottoming out, but the Chiefs and Bills both found their franchise QBs when they were playoff teams.

 

the Steelers aren’t afraid to lose, they are afraid to take a shot. 

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, SCBills said:

I think it does, just not sure if they have the stomach for it. 
 

This draft was trash at QB, but early indications are that next year could

be the opposite.

 

Build up draft capital, finally accept a losing season and then your QB of the future that comes into a situation with a WR1 already in the building. 
 

That team is getting old in alot of places and, at some point, you can’t just keep running it back with QB retreads and compete for a Wild Card and inevitable

beatdown at the hands of the Bills, Chiefs or Ravens in the Playoffs. 

 

The next draft is also in Pittsburgh 

1 minute ago, RoscoeParrish said:

They just traded away a core young guy for picks.

 

I think there’s some merit to bottoming out, but the Chiefs and Bills both found their franchise QBs when they were playoff teams.

 

the Steelers aren’t afraid to lose, they are afraid to take a shot. 

 

I don't think they saw Pickens as a core young guy in that building. I think they had decided they were not paying him. This cashes him in for a pick. 

[Mango]

1 hour ago, Jauronimo said:

Moving Watt means they're going for a full rebuild.  The timing of a rebuild makes no sense considering they just signed DK and didn't draft a QB.

 

I think they were taking one more shot going down the vet QB route. The DK trade was to lure in Rodgers.

 

But to me, trading Pickens and Watt would be early signs that Rodgers is out and they're chasing draft capital for next years draft class.

 

By all accounts next years QB class is much stronger. So they have some ammo to go get a guy.

[Process]

1 hour ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

1st + Epenesa.  Do it now 😆

Is there a single player in the NFL you DON'T think the Bills should trade for?

[Virgil]

I would do terrible things for Watt to be on this team.  Terrible, unspeakable things....

[behind a post WMS69]

21 minutes ago, Virgil said:

I would do terrible things for Watt to be on this team.  Terrible, unspeakable things....

Bad things man, bad things.

[Kirby Jackson]

FWIW, I have a very close friend at the Steelers as some of you know. I talked to him a couple of weeks ago on a few things. He thinks Watt is about to fall off a cliff and if they could get a 2nd, they should jump at it. This was before the draft and I’d imagine he’s even more emboldened. 

[Einstein's Dog]

2 hours ago, Jauronimo said:

It would make a lot of sense if they hadn't traded for DK and spent all offseason courting Aaron Rodgers.  Doing it now reeks of desperation.  Its admitting that they have completely abandoned whatever the plan was 3 weeks ago.  Their front office is a clown show if they're shopping TJ.

If they have changed plans now for whatever reason (no Aaron) and have embraced a tank, maybe our FO could float a 1st + something for DK (yes, I still regret not getting that guy).

[billsbackto81]

2 hours ago, BillsShredder83 said:

anybody thumbs downing this is either: dumb, Steelers fan, or doing it because that trade is lopsided AF lol

 

I have my doubts we'd be the team to be able to pull this off, but hell yeah id be interested.  have a litter of draft picks for him pitt can pick from.  our UFA's for next year are in good shape, but obviously figuring out cap would be mot prohibitive for us.

 

i give it a .5% chance lol

Generous odds. 😅

[Charles Romes]

Watt was not able to impact games down the stretch last year as he has in the past. I know since I was rooting for the Steelers to win many games to help the Bills. 

Edited May 7 by Charles Romes

[Alphadawg7]

Not sure I can see how we could be involved in a trade for TJ at this point.  Would I love TJ Watt here on a big SB push this season, certainly.  But with all the guys we have now, I can't see Beane parting with the draft capital and then also the cap space to make this acquisition.  

 

I am all for finding a way to get TJ, just not really sure its something that would likely happen.

[Malazan]

Bosa and Watt can trade places being on IR

[Mr. WEO]

Might as well field an all PED Defense at this point…git er done!