Steelers' TJ Watt Detailed To Ben Roethlisberger How He Wanted His Hometown Green Bay Packers To Pass On Him in 2017 Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had more than their fair share of defensive superstars. Ernie Stautner, Joe Greene, Mel Blount, Jack Lambert and Troy Polamalu come to mind when naming a few of the Steelers Hall of Fame defenders. The greatest Steelers pass rusher of all-time is very soon to be TJ Watt, who, health permitting, should blow by James Harrison and Cameron Heyward in 2023 to take over as the all-time sack leader in franchise history.

The Watt family is currently entrenched in Wisconsin lore deeper than the state bird the American Robin. They are more popular than the state song On, Wisconsin. The Watts will never surpass dairy products in the cheese state, because none of the Watt brothers played a down for the Green Bay Packers. At least one of them is happy that is the case.

The Steelers selected the youngest Watt brother with the 30th pick overall in the 2017 draft. The former Wisconsin Badgers linebacker had followed in his brothers' footsteps to play college football. Initially, he was supposed to play tight end, but after an injury in the 2014 season, he switched to defense. By 2016, he was a First-Team All-American and the Packers had an opportunity to select Watt with the 29th pick in the draft.

Steelers TJ Watt Passed On By Almost Every Team In The NFL

The Packers traded the pick away to the Cleveland Browns, who also passed on Watt for David Njoku. It allowed the Steelers to swoop in and select the future Defensive Player of the Year and co-holder of the NFL single-season sack record. Who is the person happiest with the Packers decision not to draft him? Surprisingly, it is Watt himself.

On Sunday’s episode of Footbahlin With Ben Roethlisberger, Watt joined the former Steelers quarterback and his cohost Spencer T’eo to drink beer and reminisce about his career so far. Ben Roethlisberger asked Watt about his draft process entering the league and if he was kind of hoping for Green Bay to draft him.

“It would have been awesome to play there, don’t get me wrong.” Watt began. “You get the call before TV; TV is delayed obviously. They were still in the running when I got the call. Everybody kind of thought it could have still been them. They were the pick right before us, they traded out.”

The Packers ended up selecting Kevin King in a move that is lambasted by the fan base annually. The selection of King over Watt has not passed the Tony Mandarich choice as the worst in franchise history, but if Watt ends up in the Hall of Fame, it could be when all is said and done. The five-time Pro Bowler was not upset to be leaving his home state behind.

“I went to school in Wisconsin,” Watt continued. “Wisconsin High School, I grew up in Wisconsin and then I went to Madison which is only like 45 minutes away from where I grew up. Green Bay would have been two hours away and it just would have been a lot.”

Roethlisberger, who went to High School in Ohio and then played for Miami of Ohio in college, can relate to Watt’s story. The Cleveland Browns had an opportunity to select Roethlisberger with the sixth pick in the 2004 draft and selected Kellen Winslow Jr instead. Roethlisberger took particular delight in beating Cleveland during his career and earned his last home victory against them in 2021. Watt continued to talk about his home state.

“I needed to get out of the state,” Watt declared. “I think it was good for my development and just get away from the shadow of my brothers. Do my own thing for once. Going back to college, it wasn’t always Wisconsin. I waited for the longest time, like no I want to blaze my own trail to Minnesota or somewhere else just to do my own thing. I really love Wisconsin, so I went there but as far as the NFL it was good for me to get away.”

It is not surprising to hear that a young man wants to leave home to explore what the world has to offer. Sports legends like Lebron James, who were drafted by their hometown teams, face immense pressure. Even a superstar like James had to move on to ease the incredible pressure of producing a winner in Cleveland early in his career.

JJ Watt was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year before the Steelers selected his brother. He was the 11th pick in the 2011 draft by the Houston Texans. Roethlisberger asked the three time All-Pro if he was hoping to go to Houston in the 2017 draft.

“They were up there, that might have been the Deshaun Watson year,” Watt concluded. “I didn’t even think about it to be honest with you.”

The 2017 first round is littered with great players. The Browns took the second-best available edge rusher with the first pick overall in Myles Garrett. Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson, Jamal Adams, Christian McCaffrey and Tre’Davious White are other big stars who went in the first round of that draft. It is one of the deepest drafts in terms of talent in recent memory and Houston desperately needed a quarterback with the 11th pick that season.

The Steelers at pick 30 got the best player not named Mahomes in the draft. Watt is only 28 and entering his seventh season in the NFL. He needs just four sacks to pass Harrison and finish at least one-half sack ahead of Heyward in 2023 to become the all-time Steelers sack leader.

What do you think Steeler Nation? Are you still stunned that Watt fell to the Steelers at pick 30? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.  

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