Shortly after the Pittsburgh Steelers traded safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for Jalen Ramsey, ESPN’s Adam Schefter claimed that interest in former Defensive Player of the Year and four-time All-Pro T.J. Watt is growing throughout the league.
If Watt becomes available, trading for him is the type of blockbuster move that Roseman has earned a reputation for, and it has helped the Eagles become perennial Super Bowl contenders over the last half-decade.
Eagles Linked to Potential T.J. Watt, Blockbuster Trade
Roseman isn’t afraid to make daring moves for top players, whether it’s acquiring A.J. Brown from the Tennessee Titans on draft night, rounding out one of the best receiving duos in the league, or taking a chance on former first-round draft pick Jahan Dotson and his potential.
Andrew Fillipponi at 93.7 According to The Fan in Pittsburgh, if Roseman calls Steelers general manager Omar Khan and offers Nolan Smith and a draft selection, that could be enough to get Watt to go.
During a visit on Philadelphia’s 94.1 WIP, Fillipponi mentioned that the Eagles once traded Kiko Alonso for Shady McCoy. “The Steelers have traded Minkah Fitzpatrick for Jalen Ramsey.
I used to live in a world where I thought, “Okay, maybe a first-round pick is all you get back.” But perhaps there would be players involved. For example, the Eagles may phone the Steelers and say, “We want T.J. Watt.” We’ll trade you Nolan Smith for a late-round pick.’ I believe they make that swap. I really do.
“I believe that is the type of thing that would get Mike Tomlin’s attention. Especially if he believes T.J. Watt does not want to play here, is too pricey, and is 30 years old. So I don’t know. I mean, I would initially think, ‘Hey, a first-round pick, and then you go from there.’
.’ However, based on how the Dolphins trade went, they may desire a player.
Watt is one of the actual difference-makers at a premium position that Roseman and the Eagles place a substantially higher value on, and he would boost an already formidable pass rush that sacked Patrick Mahomes six times in Super Bowl LIX without even blitzing.
Watt has 108 sacks in his first eight seasons, reaching double digits six times, including a career-high 22.5 in 2021, when he was named Defensive Player of the Year.
Trading Smith for Watt would negate part of the 24-year-old former first-round choice in the 2023 NFL Draft class’s potential, but it may considerably improve Philadelphia’s prospects of winning multiple Super Bowls over the next three seasons.
Watt would undoubtedly be a huge boost to a unit that is one of the Eagles’ strengths but is entering the season hoping to replace the production lost due to the free agent exits of Josh Sweat and Milton Williams.
Could the Eagles afford a trade for T.J. Watt?
The Steelers and Watt are likely to strike an agreement, bringing an end to the nasty contract dispute that has loomed over Pittsburgh all offseason.
However, if Watt becomes available, Roseman and the Eagles are well-positioned to capitalize on the 30-year-old playmaker’s feud with the Steelers.
As training camp approaches, the Eagles still have up to $30.78 million in salary space this season, with an estimated $17.72 million on hand in 2026 and $95.92 million in 2027.
Similarly, the fact that the Eagles play in the NFC can’t damage Roseman’s prospects of making a deal, because Khan, Tomlin, and the Steelers would probably prefer not to meet Watt on the way to a Super Bowl in the AFC.
With plenty of cap room, a strong need to improve the pass rush, and Watt’s track record as one of the most disruptive players at his position, Roseman and the Eagles might make one of the biggest transactions of the offseason.
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