Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt has caused rampant speculation in light of a recent cryptic Instagram post on Wednesday. Many speculated that contract negotiations between Watt and the Steelers have stalled, and that the linebacker may request a trade. It was once a far-fetched scenario, but it is being taken seriously by many fans and analysts. The Steelers themselves may be preparing for a worst-case scenario in which Watt leaves. Among the three college prospects that visited the Steelers on Friday, one is a powerful defensive talent that the Steelers view as an outside linebacker, and possibly a replacement for Watt.
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Shemar Stewart in his time at Texas A&M.
Shemar Stewart, outside linebacker from Texas A&M, met with the Steelers on Friday. Stewart is considered to be one of the best prospects in the draft, regardless of position. It is worth noting that Stewart is the first edge rusher to land a top-30 visit. Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette covered Stewart's unusual pre-draft visit with the Steelers and how Stewart could fit into the existing roster.
"The Steelers have expressed their intentions to sign TJ Watt to a new contract," wrote Fittipaldo. "Stewart played both edge and defensive line at Texas A&M, so the Steelers could simply use him as a hybrid player early in his career, aligning him up and down the line at various positions."
It's unclear if the Steelers simply intend to bolster their defensive line, or if they are in fact preparing for a star defensive player like Watt to leave. If Watt's leaving is a real possibility, it would be a massive blow to the Steelers' defense.
There aren't many holes in Stewart's performance, but if you had to nitpick, he is lacking in sacks. Although he isn't one to make many flashy plays, Stewart is a definite first-round pick. It's possible that the only thing standing between the Steelers and drafting a lineman like Stewart is how the situation at quarterback evolves. Unless the Steelers have yet to lock down a starting quarterback by draft day, they will likely use their first-round pick to take a defensive lineman.
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Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger and TJ Watt laugh during a practice in the Steel City.
While the quarterback situation in Pittsburgh has gotten most of the media attention, the second biggest problem plaguing the Steelers is their defense. It has been widely projected that the Steelers will draft a defensive lineman with the 21st overall pick in the upcoming draft. If that were to happen, then Stewart would be an ideal choice.
In the 2025 NFL Combine, Stewart had a broad jump of 10 feet, 11 inches, the best among the edge rushers at this year’s event. He also had the second-best vertical jump, reaching 40 inches, and the third-fastest 40-yard dash time, clocking in at 4.59 seconds. While a combine performance isn't the most important factor in determining a player's potential, a performance like Stewart's is hard to ignore.
Steelers' Defense Could Be In Jeopardy Without Watt
With or without Watt, Stewart would bring energy and strength to Pittsburgh's defense. While the Watt's future with the Steelers has been cast into doubt, the Steelers have options like Stewart to begin strengthening the trenches should Watt leave Pittsburgh.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin looks on during the 2025 Senior Bowl.
The meaning of many of the Steelers' offseason moves can only be speculated at this point. However, Stewart's presence at a pre-draft visit could be a bad sign for what's to come in regards to Watt. If the Steelers are already exploring alternatives to Watt, then the team may not be confident that they will be able to retain the veteran linebacker. It's also entirely possible that the Steelers aren't worried about the Watt situation, and the meeting with Stewart was going to happen regardless.
The Steelers have been needing to bolster their defense long before Watt made his cryptic post, and Stewart was always one of the top defensive talents of this draft.
Do you think the Steelers will lose Watt? Do you think Pittsburgh should draft a defensive lineman like Stewart with the 21st overall pick? Let us know in the comments.
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