The Pittsburgh Steelers will have a very interesting offseason in 2026. Of course, it all starts with finding a new head coach and assembling his staff, but once that's done, there will be numerous aging veterans that General Manager Omar Khan will have to decide on. Some of them are free agents, but others could be cut or traded before the free agency frenzy begins. The past is in the past, and a new era will begin. The fates of many of these players are still to be determined in the coming months.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan intently making a crucial phone call during the intensity of draft night, coordinating key decisions to shape the future of the franchise.
During his recent Q&A chat, Brian Batko was asked about some of these players. He went into detail about just one of those men leaving, despite his superstardom.
"TJ [Watt] is one I think you have to seriously look at," Batko said. "First off, there's no denying his production has waned. There's also not one, not two, but three younger edge rushers behind him in the pecking order who are either playing great now, have a bright future, or both. That contract is a real albatross, though. You'd probably have to find a team that runs a similar defense, has cap space and might just be one pass-rushing piece away from winning a Super Bowl. I'll throw out the Patriots and Rams."
As Batko said, TJ Watt definitely did not have the kind of generational season that everyone is used to, even before he suffered his lung injury. It seemed like teams finally figured out how to slow him down, and the Steelers did not adjust well enough to counter that and get him free in the backfield again. Having a position full of young stars definitely makes him more expendable at this point.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith sub out during a Wild Card matchup against the Ravens in 2025.
Meanwhile, the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams are fighting for the Super Bowl, although they are doing so with very different roster types and philosophies. As long as they win, there will be absolutely no complaints about the way they are doing things. The road to Santa Clara will not be easy for either team. It will definitely have to be earned, and if they don't make it, they will want to load up.
The Patriots are somewhat similar to the Steelers. They have a big focus on a dominant defense, but there is also a ton of youth on the team, especially on offense. Bringing in Watt would help show the younger guys exactly how to be a professional. He may not be a very vocal leader, but he leads by example well. New England also does not have a high-end edge rusher, so he would be a massive boost to that position group.
John McCoy / Associated Press
Los Angeles Rams Defensive Coordinator Chris Shula roams the sidelines as his team participates in a regular-season football game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA.
Meanwhile, many of the Rams' key pieces are older, and there are questions about how long they can compete for. If they run it back in 2026, they could bring Watt in as part of their potential last ride. Los Angeles is known for always having an innovative coaching staff, so if anyone can help the former Defensive Player of the Year catch his second wind and get back to being a generational talent, it's that group.
Steelers May Have A Rough Time Trading Watt Away
Unfortunately, Watt's age and contract would make it hard for the Steelers to get quality compensation for him. They could just hold on to him and hope that the new coaching staff can help fix him, especially if it's one of the Rams' coaches that gets the job in Pittsburgh. Either way, his future in Pittsburgh is not guaranteed despite recently signing an extension. It may be time to cut bait with him as well.
What do you think about the Steelers trading Watt away to a Super Bowl contender? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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