ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports “some teams could see Pittsburgh at least considering moving on” from T.J. Watt in 2027.

14 May 2026

As Fowler notes, Steelers EDGE Nick Herbig is a free agent next offseason. Pittsburgh’s No. 3 pass-rusher is expected to be a hot name on the open market. The Steelers could work toward an extension for him before that happens, but they can’t realistically pay Watt, Herbig, and T.J. Watt top dollar. A Herbig extension might make Watt more valuable to the team as a trade asset. Still, it’s hard to believe the Steelers would trade one of the faces of their franchise at the tail end of his prime. How both he and Herbig play in 2026 will determine what GM Omar Khan does next offseason.