Draft Expert Warns Steelers Their Trade Pieces Aren't As Valuable As Fans Think

There’s a quiet assumption around the Pittsburgh Steelers that the roster is loaded with valuable trade pieces and players who would fetch real interest if the phone lines ever opened. That belief has only grown louder with the franchise stepping into uncharted territory. With Mike Tomlin no longer at the helm and Mike McCarthy taking over as head coach, there is a layer of uncertainty hanging over the organization. Direction, philosophy, and long-term vision are all up for debate, and nobody outside the building truly knows how aggressively this team plans to reshape itself over the next few seasons.

That uncertainty has fueled a familiar argument among Steelers fans. Many have been calling for a retool rather than a full teardown, moving older veterans out of town while there is still a meaningful return on investment. Even cornerstone names like TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith have started popping up in trade conversations, a sign of how restless the fan base has become. As dominant as those players are, the NFL is a league obsessed with youth, flexibility, and timing. Sometimes the smartest move is selling while the value is still near its peak, even if it makes people uncomfortable.

Still, the Steelers have rarely operated that way. This franchise historically holds onto elite talent, often pushing competitive windows longer than expected rather than cashing out early. That approach makes the idea of unloading premium pass rushers far more complicated than it sounds. According to NFL Draft expert Daniel Jeremiah, even players with star power do not automatically guarantee the kind of return fans imagine. 

"If you need an edge rusher, this is a good draft to double up," Jeremiah said. "The depth of the class is impressive. I've got 10 guys worthy of a spot in top 50 players. There's another layer of 'traitsy' players beyond that group."

Age, contracts, scheme fit, and draft class depth all factor into how the rest of the league assigns value, and that reality could make any major trade decision far more challenging for Pittsburgh than many assume. 

In this case, it is clear that Jeremiah believes the 2026 NFL Draft is absolutely loaded with edge rushers. That reality alone makes the idea of trading one of the Steelers’ older edge defenders far more challenging than fans might expect. When you specifically look at Watt, the trade market is already complicated by his massive contract and the fact that he is now past 30 years old. 

Steelers Would Be Silly To Trade TJ Watt At This Point

Teams tend to hesitate when weighing premium picks against expensive veterans, especially at a position where younger options are readily available in the draft. The good news for General Manager Omar Khan and Pittsburgh is that Watt remains a fan favorite, and many around the league believe his 2025 season was more of a down year by his own elite standards than a sign of decline. 

When you set the bar as high as Watt has throughout his career, regression is inevitable at some point. The expectation is that he bounces back in 2026, and when you combine that with Jeremiah’s comments about the depth of the upcoming class, it makes Watt even less likely to be moved.

Watt will enter 2026 with extra motivation, intent on silencing doubts and reminding everyone what elite production truly looks like. 

He has heard all the noise, battled through the adversity of a punctured lung, and was shaken by Tomlin stepping away. If you’ve followed Pittsburgh football over the last decade, you know exactly the type of 2026 season Watt is going to have.

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