One of many largest tales for the Pittsburgh Steelers all through OTAs has been the absence of T.J. Watt. Whereas OTAs are voluntary, the Steelers are inclined to have a superb turnout. That’s why Watt not being there was noticeable. It’s unclear what his causes are, however his contract scenario possible has one thing to do with it. Watt goes into the final 12 months of his deal, and he desires an extension. Nevertheless, the Steelers haven’t provided that to him but. Some have known as for the Steelers to commerce Watt, however analyst Gregg Rosenthal doesn’t assume that’s a good suggestion.
“It’s not the appropriate time of 12 months to make a commerce. It simply doesn’t make any sense to me,” Rosenthal mentioned just lately on his NFL Each day podcast. “If groups have been extra aggressive about these items, it wouldn’t have been that loopy.
“When you may have gotten a haul for T.J. Watt earlier than the draft and also you wished to actually put money into your younger gamers on the place, Nick Herbig and Alex Highsmith are superior and also you’re fairly deep there. However at the moment of 12 months, you’ve received to only give him that cash.”
Rosenthal is appropriate. Proper now, buying and selling Watt hurts the Steelers excess of it helps them. He’s their greatest participant, and likewise probably the greatest gamers within the NFL generally. Watt is a sport changer, and discovering a participant of his caliber is extremely tough.
Additionally, the Steelers have made it clear that they wish to be as aggressive as they are often this 12 months. Buying and selling Watt would run counter to that. Any package deal that the Steelers would obtain in return would possible steer them towards a rebuild. Whereas some followers may really feel like that’s the course the crew ought to go, it doesn’t appear to be in Pittsburgh’s plans.
Had the Steelers gotten an outrageous provide for Watt earlier than this 12 months’s draft, possibly they might’ve entertained it. Nevertheless, OTAs have began. This isn’t the perfect time to recoup the best worth for Watt. He’s additionally coming off a down season, no less than in comparison with his personal excessive requirements, in order that may additionally negatively influence commerce gives.
This season, the Steelers in all probability received’t be Tremendous Bowl contenders. That might change however in comparison with among the different powerhouses within the AFC, they prone to come up brief. Nevertheless, that doesn’t imply they need to commerce Watt.
He’s been the final word professional, being a captain and a staple of Pittsburgh’s franchise. Watt has earned an enormous extension, and the Steelers ought to give it to him. Whereas Herbig and Highsmith are good gamers, they will’t change Watt. Locking him up for the foreseeable future can be a sensible transfer for the Steelers. Possibly they’ll think about buying and selling him at some point, however that shouldn’t come this 12 months.
