TJ Watt and 6 NFL Stars Who Could Actually Be Traded

It’s been a weird offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They have let both of their potential starting quarterbacks go, have flirted with Aaron Rodgers and made an uncharacteristic move to bring in star wide receiver DK Metcalf. 

You know what would make it even weirder? The team suddenly deciding to trade its best defensive player. 

That's the speculation following a cryptic Instagram post from 30-year-old future Hall of Famer T.J. Watt, who is entering the final year of a contract that will cost the team $30.4 million against the salary cap in 2025. 

Let's assess the feasibility of that while looking at six other star players who could still be dealt this offseason.

Could Watt Move Now?

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

It's entirely possible T.J. Watt's Instagram post was a leverage play in contract extension negotiations, but the fact is he's expensive and in his 30s now. 

The Steelers already have the most expensive defense in the NFL. Could they consider cutting bait on the seven-time Pro Bowler now in order to maximize value for a player who, arguably, peaked in 2021 and has been somewhat disappointing in two of his last three campaigns?

It's a move that wouldn't make a ton of sense if they want to go all-in on Aaron Rodgers, unless of course they deem it necessary to unload Watt in order to afford Rodgers.

They would save more than $21 million by dealing Watt now, while presumably loading up on draft capital in return. But doing so for the sake of the veteran quarterback would be a mistake simply because the 41-year-old hasn't been a high-impact player since 2021 and would stand little chance of putting the Watt-less Steelers over the top. 

This makes more sense if the Steelers decide to forgo the Rodgers experiment and enter a mini-rebuild phase around younger standouts such as DK Metcalf and Minkah Fitzpatrick. 

Regardless, it can't be ruled out.

George Pickens Could Also Become a Former Steeler

AP Photo/Matt Durisko

Watt isn't the only Steelers star who could be on the trading block.

On the other side of the ball, George Pickens has been the subject of trade speculation ever since the team acquired and re-upped Metcalf last month. 

Pickens is a strong player and still just 24 years old, but he's also entering a contract year and will be tough to keep around with that much money committed to Metcalf. Can Pittsburgh really afford the luxury of having both on the same roster for the long term? 

For now, Pickens' $4.2 million cap number makes it easy. But this might also be about maxing value while it exists, because a lot of other teams would be willing to fork over plenty of draft capital in exchange for a still-cheap and young wideout coming off a third consecutive 800-plus-yard campaign. 

Don't Rule Out a Micah Parsons Trade in Dallas

AP Photo/Matt Patterson

Another superstar defender entering the final year of his contract on a nationally beloved team? Micah Parsons, who has been negotiating an extension with the Dallas Cowboys this offseason but hasn't been able to iron anything out yet. 

It's still likely to happen, but Dallas is on the hook for more than $24 million in 2025 for now, and it has a lot of cash tied up elsewhere. 

With the 25-year-old perennial Pro Bowler likely to become extremely expensive thanks to Myles Garrett's new bar-resetting deal, it's easy to see why there has been legitimate speculation that Jerry Jones could decide to do something dramatic here.

Dolphins Could Move On from Tyreek Hill

AP Photo/Stephen Brashear

Tyreek Hill trade rumors have been swirling for a while, and he isn't doing much to dispel the notion that he would prefer to play elsewhere. 

It’s entirely possible the Dolphins give in, target a receiver early in the draft (possibly someone like Tetairoa McMillan at No. 13 overall) and move on from a controversial figure who will cost them more than $27 million against the cap in 2025. 

It does feel as though it's only a matter of time before the Dolphins and Hill go their separate ways here. The question might be how soon that comes.

Tank Bigsby Could Force Travis Etienne Jr. Out in Jacksonville

AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

Travis Etienne Jr. might be the better-known back for Jacksonville, but Tank Bigsby averaged nearly a full yard per carry more than his 26-year-old teammate in 2024.

Now, it appears Etienne has fallen out of favor for a Jaguars team that could use help elsewhere at the expense of a talented, young and now-backup running back. 

Somebody else might believe they can get more out of a player who compiled more than 1,400 scrimmage yards in his first two healthy seasons and will cost a reasonable $6.1 million in a walk year in 2025. 

Let's see what happens once everybody has recalibrated after the draft.

Could the Saints Draft Shedeur Sanders and Deal Derek Carr? 

AP Photo/Jason Behnken

Shedeur Sanders has become a relatively popular mock draft choice for the New Orleans Saints in the No. 9 spot. And if they go that route, it's possible they will decide it doesn't make sense to keep Derek Carr on the roster. 

That said, the 34-year-old was quite productive when healthy in 2024, and he could at least serve as a mentor to Sanders at a not-bad-by-QB-standards cost of $20.5 million against the cap. 

Even if the Saints don't take a signal-caller early in the draft, they could still decide to part with Carr after June 1.

It’s too financially problematic for the team to do anything with the four-time Pro Bowler before then, but more competitive teams may become desperate between the draft and the start of the season, and New Orleans could cash in as a result.

A Fresh Setting for Kyle Pitts?

AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.

This is another example of a talented young player entering a contract year and possibly needing a new environment to excel. 

In this case, the Atlanta Falcons could decide that a top-five pick with just 10 touchdowns in four seasons isn't working for them and that with all the talent they have elsewhere on offense, Kyle Pitts isn't worth keeping at a cost of $10.9 million as his rookie contract ends. 

Depending on how things go with tight ends Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland on draft night, the demand for Pitts could shift dramatically by the end of April.