As Pittsburgh Steelers star T.J. Watt continues his offseason holdout, trade speculation surrounding the All-Pro pass rusher is growing louder. One of the most talked-about potential suitors? The Detroit Lions.
According to ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, multiple teams have reached out to the Steelers to check on Watt’s availability amid his ongoing contract dispute. Fowler reported on SportsCenter that while the Steelers remain committed to keeping Watt, the organization has not completely shut the door on listening to trade offers.
“The Steelers still see Watt as a cornerstone of their defense, but when you have a player of this caliber unhappy about his contract and skipping minicamp, teams naturally start calling,” Fowler explained. “And yes, the Detroit Lions are among those teams showing interest.”
Fowler also noted that Detroit’s recent success and aggressive front office make them a logical fit. After reaching the NFC Championship Game last season, the Lions are seen as being one or two defensive pieces away from serious Super Bowl contention.
Adam Schefter, another top ESPN NFL insider, echoed Fowler’s report. On NFL Live, Schefter emphasized that Detroit has both the draft capital and the salary cap space to make a deal work.
“Detroit has the resources,” Schefter said. “They’re not just calling for the sake of it. They have the money to pay Watt what he’s looking for, and they have the picks that could entice Pittsburgh if this situation drags into training camp.”
One trade package floated by analysts includes Detroit sending a 2026 second-round pick, a 2026 fourth-rounder, and a 2027 fifth-round pick to Pittsburgh. ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky, a former Lions quarterback and current analyst, went even further, saying Detroit should strongly consider overpaying.
“If I’m Detroit, I go get him,” Orlovsky said on Get Up. “You’re this close to a Super Bowl. Pair T.J. Watt with Aidan Hutchinson and you’re talking about one of the nastiest pass-rush duos in football.”
For now, the Steelers are holding firm, with general manager Omar Khan publicly stating that Watt remains “a huge part of our future.” But as training camp looms, Detroit’s interest—backed by ESPN’s top insiders—makes this a storyline to watch closely.
