The Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers both have a quarterback problem. The Steelers still don’t have a starter as they continue to wait for Aaron Rodgers, and San Francisco’s starter, Brock Purdy, is seeking a new contract but the two sides have yet to come to an agreement.
As contract talks between Purdy and the 49ers continue, there has been no shortage of trade speculation surrounding the former seventh-round pick, with analysts believing he could be traded if the Niners don’t want to pay him the market-resetting deal he may very well be seeking.
Recently, former NFL player and ESPN analyst Chris Canty proposed ablockbuster trade between the 49ers and Steelers that would send Purdy to Pittsburgh in for T.J. Watt and the Steelers’ No. 21 overall pick. Canty also believes the Niners could replace Purdy by drafting a quarterback at No. 11 overall.
“Using T.J. Watt as a way to be able to pry Brock Purdy from San Francisco,” Canty said on UnSportsmanLike. “The 49ers gutted at defense, being able to add some help for Fred Warner and Nick Bosa. T.J. Watt in that group. [Robert] Saleh now back there as the defensive coordinator.
“[The 49ers] got the 11th overall pick, so they can presumably draft a quarterback if they don’t have to give up that pick in the trade. I don’t know how the 49ers say no to that.”
Like Purdy, Watt is also seeking an extension, but things don’t appear to be going smoothly, which has led to trade speculation. Watt made a cryptic post to social media, and a report suggests there might have been something to it.
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The 49ers would actually have a few quarterback options in this scenario. On top of being able to draft a quarterback, the Niners could opt to bring in Rodgers for a season or two as a bridge who can help them win now and give more time for development of the young signal-caller they draft.
The Niners have lost a lot of talent on defense this offseason, so adding an elite edge rusher like Watt to the unit would fast track the retooling of that side of the ball. The Niners would then have to turn around and extend Watt, something the team can do with a decent salary cap space situation over the next few years.
For the Steelers, adding Purdy would be huge to solve their quarterback problem, and they can afford to extend him. However, the loss of Watt would be a massive blow to the strength of the team, and Pittsburgh’s chances of competing for big things in 2025. Not to mention, the Steelers wouldn’t have a first-round pick to bring in a possible replacement for the seven-time Pro Bowler.
At the end of the day, we just don’t see the 49ers trading a 25-year-old quarterback who has shown he can get the team to a Super Bowl. We can’t imagine the Steelers trading Watt, either, although it isn’t outlandish to think the Steelers could have interest in a Purdy trade that doesn’t include Watt.
