Steelers Burning Question: A deal you can’t refuse?
Last season I did the Friday Night Steelers Six Pack and wondered if it was worth doing further. After all, interaction was not great, and sometimes you just have to adjust. So I decided to call an audible, and not just abandon the Friday night meeting of the black-and-gold minds.
Instead of six questions, I wanted to focus solely on one question.
We’ll still do the preamble of what you’re eating/drinking/listening to, but we’ll focus our attention on the one Steelers question of the week. Don’t worry, most weeks I’ll do a bonus/extra credit question for fun. With all that out of the way, let’s get to the question!
There are a lot of fans who think the Steelers could make a trade involving several current players to help improve their draft stock in both 2025 and 2026. So, let’s play the game “let’s make a deal”. In other words, what would it take for you to trade the following players:
- T.J. Watt
- Minkah Fitzpatrick
- George Pickens
As for me, I would answer the phone on any of these players, but anything less than the below deals is a no-go for me. I should reiterate I don’t think the Steelers will move off Watt or Fitzpatrick, but Pickens is a consideration if the price is right.
Watt:
- 2025 1st Round, 2025 3rd Round, 2026 2nd Round
Fitzpatrick
- 2025 2nd Round, 2025 4th Round, 2026 3rd Round
Pickens
- 2025 2nd Round, 2026 3rd Round
What say you?
As for what I’m eating, it’s slow cooked beef over exploded potatoes. As for drink, it’s always store bought kombucha, as usual, and the tunes will be some vinyl records I recently went and purchased!
Happy Friday everyone!!
I’ll never think trading Watt is worth it. Maybe I’m too loyal to the players sometimes. I’m all in on that Pickens trade. I still think he’s a fool me twice shame on me guy. If the Steelers got a 2nd and a third for him I’m 100% doing that. Minkah I’m torn on. Love the guy but I think his value isn’t worth the price, so maybe it would be time to move on if the right offer was there. Don’t know what I’m doing for dinner yet. A lot of sum 41, Christian, and country in the earbuds today. Go Steelers!
Solid no on TJ and Minkah. A 2 &3 for George, wow! Count me in.
Pizza Friday.
I would make any of these deals. With Watt I would ask him if he wanted to go or stay. Fried fish, French fries, cole slaw, jalapeno poppers and Dr. Pepper.
I would trade Pickens for an Italian Beef Sandwich, Chicago Dog, Pizza Puff, and a Large order of Crinkle Cut Fries. He has had Character issues since College and it will NOT change Period. Bye George. Adios Muchachos as Big G would say.
Did I oversell Pickens?
What would a more realistic offer be for the WR?
I think a 2nd next year or a 3rd this year. Maybe a pick swap in there too. I think even that is a lot to ask. Maybe a 3rd this year and next year? Idk
I laugh and tell the other GM to call back when he’s serious if the best he comes up with is a 3rd this year or a 2nd next.
George has taken a beating in the Burgh reputationally, but that is a level of talent you don’t ship out for a 3rd or a future pick.
To me, I always have to go back on the 3rd and 5th AB brought when he was shipped to the Raiders.
I know, different scenario, but still…
I mean if they can get a 2nd for Claypool, they certainly ought to be able to get a 2nd for Pickens who has demonstrated much greater athleticism and catch ability then Pickens ever did. So I would expect a 2nd and a 4th.
I often forget the Bears were foolish enough to give up a 2nd for Chase Claypool…
Still working away during the week, and getting home later on Fridays. So I’m just foraging and eating what I find – like a racoon, or a rodent of some sort. So far I’ve had a few meatballs, mac salad, an eclair, some fruit snacks, and a fist full of peanuts. I don’t think I’m done yet.
Drinking Troegs Troegenator, it’s a very good beer. Lots of body, nice amount of citrus, and a touch of pine, with a fantastic amber color.
Listening to my Beatles chanel on Pandora.
I don’t really know how to quantify a player for player swap, so I’m only going to talk draft capital here using an NFL draft value chart but with two criteria. 1. What would I need, and 2. What do I think I could get.
T.J.
Need: 1st in 25, and 1st and 2nd in 26. Looking for 3,000 to 3,500 in the NFL draft value on the chart.
What could they get: 1st and 3rd in 25, and 2nd, and 5th in 26. 2,500ish on the chart. = Not moving T.J. so get his extention done.
Minkah
Need: 1st in 25. 1,000ish on the chart
What could they get: 2nd and 5th in 25, and 3rd in 26. = Not moving Minkah, but this one is close enough that I would think a deal could get done.
Pickens
Need: A low 1st, in 25 or high 2nd in 25, and 3rd or better in 26. 800ish on the chart.
What could they get: High 2nd. = Not moving Pickens.
I dont know any NFL execs, or agents, so these are total guesses, and potential deals could be far from my numbers. So if anyone wants to argue, know that I have no data to support what I’ve written – this was completely pulled out of my @$$, and I have no defense other than I wouldn’t let any of them go for less than I think they’re worth.
I do a lot of work — and have for many years Joe — pulling stuff out of my ass. You can actually make a career of it. As I can attest! 🙂
Drinking a Modelo while taking a car ferry to Ocracoke Island NC. No food yet. Listening to Grateful Dead 6/17/91
Would get rid of GP without thinking twice about it.
Would consider moving on from Minkah for the right price, maybe a 2nd this year and 3rd next
No to Watt
I couldn’t stop in to my local Sun King Brew Pub this evening since we are watching my three youngest grandkids (3, 2, & 1 — yikes!), but I did stop in yesterday and pick up a variety pack. So, a couple GFJ IPAs and a Double GFJ IPA (10.0% ABV). Nice. Pizza for dinner.
As for the question at hand:
T.J. Watt – Not happening. Ain’t trading him. Period.
Minkah Fitzpatrick – Also not happening. I’ll rephrase. 1st this year and 2nd/3rd in 2026; then I’ll think about it. As I said, ain’t happening.
George Pickens – I’ll do it for a 2nd this year and a 3rd in 2026. No negotiating.
Sorry, I’m just too loyal to the “Steeler guys”. Not trading them if they “get it”.
Unfortunately, the Steelers aren’t going anywhere until they resolve the QB situation. It won’t matter whether Watt, Pickens or Fitzpatrick have great 2025 seasons. The Steelers clearly rolled the dice last offseason by releasing Pickett and signing the Wilson/Fields tandem. So as long as the team isn’t opposed to taking gambles, why not take a bigger one — even if it costs them some of their marquee players?
Great players like Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt, Najee Harris and Minkah Fitzpatrick have been victimized by the team’s poor strategic choices during the past several years. If the Steelers can negotiate a major deal involving Watt and Pickens (individually or collectively), they should do it — but only if they’re getting top value in return. Otherwise, they might as well write off the 2025 season and look towards the 2026 NFL Draft. As things stand now, the Steelers still are trying to compete using QB castoffs in a league packed with excellent quarterbacks. There’s not much future in this approach.
I agree the Steelers are trying to compete using QB castoffs, but I’m not sure it’s a league packed with excellent quarterbacks. I’d say it’s a league with a few top shelf QB (Mahomes, Allen, Burrow, Jackson, Hurts, Daniels (looks like he will be)–and then the rest.
I have concerns about Watt falling off a cliff (at the end of last year he wasn’t nearly as impactful as earlier in the year, was he injured?) after they extend him to another very large contract. I have fears such contract would be an albatross for the team. Therefore, I say trade him. But I guess that would just be me “living in my fears.”