Former Aaron Rodgers’ key weapon in Green Bay sends strong warning to Steelers about potential T.J. Watt trade

While the Pittsburgh Steelers made headlines this offseason by securing the arrival of Aaron Rodgers, their roster could be seriously weakened on the defensive side. T.J. Watt could be traded if his contract situation remains unresolved, a move that, according to a former QB’s teammate from their time with the Green Bay Packers, would be a hard-to-admit mistake.

James Jones, who had a lengthy NFL career and was a Super Bowl XLV champion, expressed his frustration with the situation, believing that a potential departure of the linebacker would be a significant blow to Mike Tomlin‘s team.

During his Monday appearance on FS1’s ‘The Facility,’ Jones didn’t hide his disagreement, stating that without Watt, Pittsburgh would clearly lose more than it gains heading into the upcoming season.

“It is disrespectful, man,” he said. “We give coach [Mike] Tomlin a lot of credit for getting to the playoffs every year, right? Or not having a losing season. We give him a lot of credit for that. If you don’t have this boy [Watt], you gonna have a lot of losing seasons.”

“You see Myles Garrett and you see Maxx Crosby get extensions. And you could argue that [Watt] colder than them dudes,” Jones also added.

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James Jones’ insistence that the Steelers reach a deal with one of the league’s top linebackers — who has remained among the elite for years — is not without merit.

Although the former Wisconsin Badgers standout has seen his stats decline over the past two seasons, there’s no denying that his talent still ranks him among the NFL’s top defensive players. For that reason, many believe his earnings should be on par with those of Maxx Crosby or Myles Garrett.

“If 90 [Watt] ain’t there, scratch it off. You’re not going nowhere, if 90’s not there. Could you imagine, the quarterbacks they’ve had, and no T.J. Watt? Come on man, they would be the Browns.”

What’s the current status of Watt and the Steelers?

T.J. Watt is in ongoing contract negotiations with the Pittsburgh Steelers, pushing for an extension that would establish him as the NFL‘s highest-paid non-quarterback. His absence from mandatory minicamp underscores the current impasse, though a long-term agreement is still widely anticipated.

Adding a layer of complexity are Watt’s recent injury concerns, including an elbow issue late in the 2024 season. While he remains a critical component of the Steelers’ defense, his health and age are likely factors being considered in the prolonged contract discussions.