It's time to trade Watt and Minkah in the offseason

Psst... Have you seen what the Steelers have done with their 1st round draft picks recently????

 

Here lies the problem. Minkah's salary now is very comparable to the salaries that safeties have been signing as of late. The question though, is he playing up to his salary at this point?

As far as Watt, he will be 31 this coming season and looking for a contract in the ballpark of the top DE (Crosby, Garrett, Parsons, Etc). Due to him only wanting to play on one side and Tomlins lack of creativity on defense and not moving Watt around, he essentially has schemed himself out of being productive with teams chipping him with 3 people. Can he still be productive...hell yes he can and i know he mentioned that he looks to move around more this coming season because he is seeing what i just stated. However, why would the Steelers want to pay that price or close to it when we aren't close to competing with top notch teams or have a franchise QB in house. The Steelers could use the draft capital/money saved that we could get by trading him and getting young quality talent. We are just pushing the can down the road just like we did with Heyward's contract at his age. While Watt is worth a 1st round draft pick, I don't see another team giving one up due to Watt's age, injury history, aswell as him wanting a comparable contract to the other highly paid DE. I could see getting a 2nd and 3rd or 2nd and 4th, or a 2nd this year and 2nd next year depending how much he plays.

 

I would trade them both and wish them success.
If we are not going to realistically go deep into the playoffs trade them to a team that is.
Minka I just think they are not using him correctly.
Watt I think its a waste of a career that he has played for nothing better than average his entire career.
Teams have figured out they are not going to let Watt ruin their game so they do chip and help with two or three players. He still manages a splash play here or there but by the end of the game or more importantly the season he looks worn down.
With a suspect oline , no QB , one emotionally fragile WR , average to poor coaching, release them from this football mediocrity.

 

Austin cant get the best out of these guys. Watt and Minkah should have had more of an impact down the stretch. They’re not over the hill yet. Sadly we just dont have the coaches that can put these guys in the best position to succeed

 

If we could've gotten Stafford or Rodgers plus a pass protecting LT allowing them time to get it down field to DK, id say go for it, but we don't have that LT and they won't give up on Jones yet, so I'd mostly be on board with moving Cam and at least 1 of TJ/Minkah.

Trade for mostly 2026 picks so a team planning to contend 2025 could possibly disappoint or rebuild 2026 giving a chance at a early 1st. The rest of the picks are ammo for that QB move