Taking a look at all 32 NFL teams, ESPN recently compiled a list of every player who could command first-round trade value. When it came to the Pittsburgh Steelers, they were projected to have six players on the list. But it’s honestly more concerning who didn’t make it.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell pointed out two Steelers players who likely won’t command first-round trade value: T.J. Watt and DK Metcalf.
“Metcalf was dealt for a second-round pick last season and then endured a frustrating first season with the Steelers, which would limit his trade market,” Barnwell wrote. “Watt’s a future Hall of Famer, but after a 19-sack season in 2023, he has 18.5 sacks over the past two seasons combined. As an extremely expensive player who turns 32 in October, Watt would only make sense for a handful of teams that see him as the last piece of a Super Bowl puzzle. Remember that the Broncos only got second- and third-round picks for Von Miller when they dealt their legendary edge rusher to the Rams, and that was with Denver paying down the rest of Miller’s salary in the process.”
For reference, Barnwell included Keeanu Benton and Nick Herbig among the first-round trade value projections. And that’s honestly why Watt and Metcalf’s exclusion is more shocking.
Metcalf and Watt did have down years in 2025, but you can’t really blame the two veterans when the Steelers’ offensive and defensive schemes were atrocious. That should change in a major way in 2026, however, opening the door for both Metcalf and Watt to get back to their game-changing selves.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: ESPN confirms an unfortunate reality for Steelers’ T.J. Watt, DK Metcalf
