After a busy offseason that included the hiring of head coach Mike Vrabel, the New England Patriots appear to be moving in the right direction to be more competitive this coming season.
One area of the roster that could still use some more help is the edge rush group, as Patriots Wire’s Jordy McElroy pointed out recently when suggesting blockbuster trades New England could make.
One of those trade suggestions came with the Pittsburgh Steelers for superstar edge rusher T.J. Watt. Here’s what McElroy said about that.
“T.J. Watt is playing on an expiring deal and likely seeking a lucrative extension at 30 years old. Some would argue the Pittsburgh Steelers should consider moving on and rebooting their football team,” McElroy said.
“However, the team signed quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a one-year deal, which likely means they’re going all in on a potential Super Bowl run,” McElroy added. “Rodgers admitted that he’s ‘pretty sure’ this will be his last NFL season.
“It’s hard to imagine the Steelers bringing the legendary quarterback in just to trade the best player on their team, but crazier things have happened.”
It’s true that the Steelers are unlikely to trade Watt, but with the seven-time Pro Bowler holding out, it remains a possibility.
Watt is entering the final year of his contract and is likely looking for a deal that, at the very least, is near the top of the market. The hesitation on the Steelers’ part may have something to do with Watt’s age, which will be 31 in October.
If the Pats want to pry Watt away, they might have to give up at least a first-round pick and then some, something that might be difficult for a rebuilding team to do. From there, New England would have to extend Watt to a lucrative extension, which the team can afford.
Watt would instantly give the Pats’ defense more credibility and help them compete in a division with two explosive offenses in the Buffalo Bills’ and Miami Dolphins’, and in a loaded AFC overall.
It would be extremely difficult for the Pats to pass on that if it comes across their table, especially with a defensive-minded head coach like Vrabel.
