The Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers might pull off the most jaw-dropping trade in recent NFL memory. We’re talking about swapping T.J. Watt and Brock Purdy — a blockbuster that would shake up both franchises in ways that could actually benefit everyone involved.
ESPN Radio’s Chris Canty first pitched this wild idea during his “UnSportsmanLike” show, suggesting Pittsburgh could use Watt as leverage to land their quarterback of the future.
“Using T.J. Watt as a way to be able to pry Brock Purdy from San Francisco,” Canty explained. “The 49ers got 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.”
Canty added: “The 49ers have 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.”
Why Both Teams Might Actually Consider This Deal
The Steelers’ quarterback carousel has been spinning out of control. Just look at the last two seasons — Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, Russell Wilson, and Justin Fields. That’s four different signal-callers getting significant playing time. Pittsburgh desperately needs stability under center.
For San Francisco, the math is simple — they’re staring at a potential $50+ million per year contract for Purdy when his rookie deal expires. That’s elite quarterback money for someone who’s shown flashes but hasn’t consistently performed at that top-tier level.
Is he worth it?
Kyle Shanahan’s system has made stars out of lesser talents before. The 49ers’ front office might believe they can replicate Purdy’s success with another quarterback — especially one they could select with that valuable 11th pick they currently hold. After all, they turned Mr. Irrelevant (the final pick of the 2022 draft) into a Super Bowl quarterback in less than two years.
Meanwhile, the Niners’ defense — which struggled with consistency last season — would get an immediate boost with Watt joining forces with Nick Bosa. That’s a pass-rushing nightmare that would make NFC West quarterbacks wake up in cold sweats.
The biggest obstacle might be financial — not the football fit. Is Pittsburgh ready to pay Purdy what he’ll command on his next contract?
T.J. Watt’s Value vs. Pittsburgh’s Quarterback Needs
T.J. Watt remains one of the NFL’s premier defensive players, but at 30 years old, the Steelers might be willing to move him while his value is still sky-high. Edge rushers typically begin declining around this age — though Watt has shown no signs of slowing down yet.
The defensive stalwart would give San Francisco’s defense immediate credibility, pairing with Bosa to form possibly the league’s most fearsome pass-rushing duo. Robert Saleh (back as defensive coordinator) would surely find creative ways to deploy both stars simultaneously.
From Pittsburgh’s perspective, they’d be getting a 24-year-old quarterback who’s already led a team to the Super Bowl. Despite his seventh-round draft status, Purdy has demonstrated poise in big moments that many first-round picks never develop.
The financial implications can’t be ignored, though. The Steelers balked at paying Justin Fields around $20 million annually — would they suddenly be willing to shell out $50+ million for Purdy? That’s the price of doing business with franchise quarterbacks in today’s NFL.
This trade feels like one of those ideas that makes perfect sense on paper but rarely materializes in real life. Both teams would need to overcome significant hurdles — Pittsburgh’s historically conservative approach to quarterback spending and San Francisco’s potential reluctance to move on from a young QB who’s won.
Yet, if it somehow happened, we’d be talking about one of the most balanced blockbuster trades in NFL history. The 49ers would add an elite defensive playmaker while avoiding a massive quarterback contract, and the Steelers would finally find their long-term answer at the game’s most important position.
Sometimes the craziest ideas make the most sense — this might just be one of them.