The Pittsburgh Steelers made some noise during the 2026 offseason when the organization decided to extend outside linebacker Nick Herbig on a four-year, $100 million deal with $42 million guaranteed. There is no debating the fact that Herbig deserves that kind of deal, but some fans were shocked by the value considering the amount of money the organization already has invested in the outside linebacker position. TJ Watt signed an extremely lucrative extension before the 2025 season that kicks in this year, and Alex Highsmith is still under contract through the 2027 season on an extension he signed back in 2023.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan (left) and Owner Art Rooney II (right) on the field at a team practice while having a discussion.
The organization has been criticized a bit for extending Watt ahead of the 2025 season. He had a down year where he only recorded seven sacks, but he did contribute in other areas as well. He was also still seeing more double teams and chip blocks than anyone in the league not named Myles Garrett. With the extension of Herbig, the thought has been put out there that the Steelers could move on from either Highsmith or Watt. This seems more realistic than ever based on the fact that Garrett was dealt, and Maxx Crosby was nearly on the Baltimore Ravens.
Beat writer Mike DeFabo of The Athletic recently hosted a mailbag, and he was asked about a potential trade of one of the outside linebackers on the roster. DeFabo believes that is a possibility a year from now, during the 2027 offseason, and he believes it could be Watt.
"However, next offseason is the right time to move one," DeFabo wrote. "Highsmith is more likely to be traded because he’d have just one year left on his contract and my sense is the Steelers would like Watt to be a 'one helmet' guy. However, I would seriously consider moving Watt next offseason for a haul. If he has a bounce-back season, I don’t think a first-round pick would be out of the question considering what the Browns got for Myles Garrett and what the Ravens were prepared to give up for Maxx Crosby."
DeFabo believes the Steelers should keep both Highsmith and Watt going into the 2026 season, and then after that it would be time to reassess. This would make some sense considering the fact that the new money on Herbig's extension does not kick in until 2027.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers outside linebackers Nick Herbig and TJ Watt during organized team activities in June of 2026.
The insider seems to think that if Watt has a better season than he did in 2025, he could command a much larger haul for the Steelers, and it could include a first-round pick. This is something that the Steelers would have to consider if it was on the table, and there is no reason to turn down a trade for a first-round pick at this point in Watt's career.
Maxx Crosby was nearly traded to the Ravens for two first-round picks, while Garrett was dealt to the Los Angeles Rams for a first, second, and third, along with a premier player. A trade involving Watt would highly likely not return as much as either of those two deals, but DeFabo firmly believes a first could be on the table if Watt shows signs of his old self in 2026.
Steelers Are Still More Likely To Move Alex Highsmith
The fact of the matter is that Highsmith's contract is way easier to trade than Watt's. Highsmith would need to be extended wherever he is dealt, but it's not like the team acquiring him would be taking on a bad contract -- which could be the case for Watt.
Lucy Schaly / Post-Gazette
Steelers OLBs TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith during a home game in Pittsburgh, PA.
If the Steelers find someone to give up enough for Watt, it would probably be a contender on the doorstep of winning big that wouldn't care about the money, which means the draft picks would not even be that good in the grand scheme of things.
What do you think about Watt potentially being traded? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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