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USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN's Brooke Pryor shares potential holdup in Steelers-T.J. Watt contract negotiations
With no end in sight, the Steelers-T.J. Watt contract negotiations have received a major development — as ESPN's Brooke Pryor shared where the financial disagreement lies. Appearing on 93.7 The Fan last week, Pryor admitted that while a deal likely gets done between Watt and the Steelers, she argued the guaranteed money is currently the holdup: "T.J. Watt wants more guaranteed money than the Steelers are currently trying to offer him," Pryor stated. "This is a negotiation that will get done when it gets done." Pryor then followed up with a timeline prediction, hinting at the negotiations carrying into training camp — just like Watt's contract situation in 2021. Insider Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette previously echoed Pryor's comments — arguing Pittsburgh would need to surpass Myles Garrett's $123 million in guaranteed money to get Watt to put pen to paper. Whether or not Watt holds out at training camp for his guaranteed money remains to be seen — while other reports have claimed he could become the highest-paid defender, or even highest-paid non-quarterback, when all is said and done. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
NBC Sports
4 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Report: Steelers are "inquiring" as to T.J. Watt's possible trade value
There's often a difference between the things a reporter will write, and the things a reporter will say. When putting words on paper (real or electronic), there's always a greater degree of care. When putting words into the ether, everyone (me included) is a little looser. It happens all the time. The latest example of that dynamic comes from Mark Kaboly, who serves as the Steelers correspondent for The Pat McAfee Show. And the question is whether the Steelers are considering a potential trade of linebacker T.J. Watt, amid an ongoing contract dispute. Here's what Kaboly tweeted on Friday: "[T]here has been no inquires made to other teams about trading [Watt], according to sources.' In an appearance earlier in the day on 93.7 The Fan, however, Kaboly said something that seems contradictory on the face (even if it isn't). On the question of what the Steelers could get in trade for Watt (first-round pick, second-round pick, etc.), Kaboly said this of the Steelers: "[T]hey are obviously inquiring to see what that might be.' When co-host Andrew Fillipponi seemed alarmed by that claim, Kaboly said, 'I'm sure that's due diligence there at this point, right?' This isn't a criticism of Kaboly. It's an effort to drill down to the truth that lurks in the sweet spot between things written and things said. Officially, the Steelers haven't inquired to other teams about trading Watt. Unofficially, as Kaboly said it on the air, they're talking to other teams not about trading for Watt, but in an effort to find out, hypothetically, what his trade value might be. As Kaboly said, it's 'due diligence.' It's important to know all options before making a decision. And that makes sense. The recent report from NFL Media last month wasn't 'there's no way they'll ever trade him.' It was that they have 'no intention' to trade him. Imagine the Chiefs saying they have 'no intention' to trade Patrick Mahomes. Or the Bills as to Josh Allen. Or the Bengals as to Joe Burrow. 'No intention' means the player isn't untradeable. And, on multiple occasions in the past, a team that had 'no intention' to trade a player did. In this case, whoever trades for Watt (if that happens) would have to make him happy financially and give the Steelers enough to get them to move on from their most important player at a time when they seem to be going all in to win a playoff game for the first time since the months before Watt was drafted in early 2017. The due diligence could be part of an effort to say to Watt, when nut-cutting time arrives in the negotiations, 'T.J., no one else is going to give you what you want AND what we want.' If the Steelers want to best frame that issue, they could give Watt permission to shop himself. The Bengals did it with Trey Hendrickson, who learned that there was no one who'd satisfy both him and the Bengals. It's a minefield, to be sure. The mere fact that the Steelers apparently have tiptoed into it speaks to the extent of the gap between the two sides. In the end, the question becomes whether Watt will take or reject the best offer the Steelers make before Week 1. He may want more than Myles Garrett's $40 million per year. If Watt is offered $36 million per year, would he give up $2 million per week? As mentioned on July 4, the Steelers seem to believe he won't. They, and everyone else, may find out otherwise when Week 1 rolls around, with the Steelers rolling into MetLife Stadium for a fairly significant date with the Jets. For now, it seems that the Steelers are trying to find out what fair trade value would be, if they decide between now and the trade deadline that they need to explore that potential route more carefully.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Insider says Steelers inquired about T.J. Watt trade value
The T.J. Watt contract roller coaster just took another shocking turn — as insider Mark Kaboly has reported that the Steelers have inquired about what T.J. Watt's trade value is. Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan aggregated the news on social media — claiming Kaboly stated the Steelers were "doing their due diligence" on Watt's trade value. Kaboly also made an appearance on the July 11 edition of 93.7 The Fan and explained there was certain information he discovered that was keeping him tight-lipped. After some badgering from Fillipponi, Kaboly added some fuel to the recent second-round pick trade value rumors: "I'm just saying, [the Steelers] are obviously inquiring what that might be. If it gets to the point where it's a point of no return, maybe that second-round pick becomes very handsome." While speculative, it mirrors the trade insight from Adam Schefter, who reported that outside trade interest was expected to increase after the acquisitions of big-contract players Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith. Many have agreed a new deal between Pittsburgh and Watt gets done — but strange and surprising things have characterized this offseason, just like trading away longtime Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Doug Whaley: Steelers could have drafted Aaron Rodgers in 2005
Twenty years after he was drafted by the Packers, quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a Steeler. He could have been a Steeler 20 years ago. Appearing on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh, former Steelers pro personnel director Doug Whaley said that, as Rodgers plunged through the first round, the Steelers were watching the situation. Advertisement 'We wouldn't have had to [trade up],' Whaley said, via Nick Farabaugh of 'We would've just sat there. We had him higher than that. We were surprised he was slipping.' The Packers ended the slide at No. 24. The Steelers didn't pick that year until No. 30. (They took tight end Heath Miller.) If Rodgers had been on the board at No. 30, what would the Steelers have done? They'd used a first-round pick in 2004 on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who helped the team to a 15-1 record and a berth in the AFC Championship. Rodgers is the objectively better passer. But Roethlisberger won two Super Bowls. But Rodgers beat Roethsliberger in a Super Bowl. Advertisement And in the first Super Bowl won by the Steelers since the 1979 season, Roethlisberger didn't have a stellar day. He completed nine of 21 passes for 123 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions in the 21-10 win over the Seahawks. (He also rushed for 25 yards and a touchdown on seven attempts.) What would Rodgers have done in Pittsburgh, as a rookie and beyond? We'll never know. But we will know how he does in 2025, four years after Roethlisberger retired.
NBC Sports
5 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Doug Whaley: Steelers could have drafted Aaron Rodgers in 2005
Twenty years after he was drafted by the Packers, quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a Steeler. He could have been a Steeler 20 years ago. Appearing on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh, former Steelers pro personnel director Doug Whaley said that, as Rodgers plunged through the first round, the Steelers were watching the situation. 'We wouldn't have had to [trade up],' Whaley said, via Nick Farabaugh of 'We would've just sat there. We had him higher than that. We were surprised he was slipping.' The Packers ended the slide at No. 24. The Steelers didn't pick that year until No. 30. (They took tight end Heath Miller.) If Rodgers had been on the board at No. 30, what would the Steelers have done? They'd used a first-round pick in 2004 on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who helped the team to a 15-1 record and a berth in the AFC Championship. Rodgers is the objectively better passer. But Roethlisberger won two Super Bowls. But Rodgers beat Roethsliberger in a Super Bowl. And in the first Super Bowl won by the Steelers since the 1979 season, Roethlisberger didn't have a stellar day. He completed nine of 21 passes for 123 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions in the 21-10 win over the Seahawks. (He also rushed for 25 yards and a touchdown on seven attempts.) What would Rodgers have done in Pittsburgh, as a rookie and beyond? We'll never know. But we will know how he does in 2025, four years after Roethlisberger retired.
