Fox Sports host Colin Cowherd has a message for the Pittsburgh Steelers: it's time to part ways with superstar linebacker T.J. Watt. In a fiery segment on The Herd, Cowherd argued the Steelers should trade the eight-time Pro Bowler for a first-round pick, following the blueprint set by division rival Cleveland.
The Browns recently shook the NFL by trading All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for a massive haul, including rookie pass rusher Jared Verse and multiple future picks. That deal, which drew widespread approval from analysts, clearly caught Cowherd's attention. NFL analysts unanimously approved of the Browns' haul, and Cowherd believes Pittsburgh should take a similar approach.
“Go get a first-round pick. T.J. Watt gets you a first-round pick—it’s not that difficult!” Cowherd said on air. He pointed to other recent trades—like the Giants landing a top-10 pick for Dexter Lawrence and the Ravens nearly giving up two first-rounders for Maxx Crosby—as evidence that elite pass rushers command premium returns.
Watt, who turned 30 last October, is under contract through 2028 but carries a $32 million base salary for the upcoming season. After a relatively quiet 2025 campaign with just seven sacks, some wonder if his production justifies that price tag. Cowherd didn't hold back, calling Pittsburgh's defense “the second-oldest and the most expensive” in the league and warning that such a combination is a Super Bowl disqualifier.
“Guys, evolve. Move off older players!” he urged.
But the Steelers aren't listening. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the franchise has no intention of trading Watt—or fellow pass rusher Alex Highsmith—this offseason. “My sense this year is nothing,” Rapoport told Behind the Steel Curtain. “I don’t get the sense Highsmith is going anywhere… T.J. Watt is not going anywhere this year. He is not. He is gonna play for the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
For now, the Steelers seem content to ride with their veteran core. But Cowherd's argument raises a valid question: in a league where teams like the Browns are unafraid to hit the reset button, should Pittsburgh be more willing to make bold moves? The debate echoes other trade rumors swirling around the league, like Caitlin Clark to the Sparks—speculation that just won't die, even when teams deny it.
Whether the Steelers ultimately trade Watt or not, Cowherd's call has sparked a conversation about roster construction and the cost of loyalty in the modern NFL.
