Could the Bears be in play for Steelers star T.J. Watt?

The Pittsburgh Steelers were an incredibly busy team on Monday, trading for Miami Dolphins star cornerback Jalen Ramsey, tight end Jonnu Smith, and a 2027 seventh-round pick in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2025 fifth-round pick.

It was a move that sent shockwaves through the NFL and brought the current contract standoff between the Steelers and T.J. Watt to the forefront.

Watt wants to be the NFL’s highest-paid pass-rusher, and while there’s a chance the Steelers will make him that, a new deal — or even a sniff of a new deal — hasn’t been reached yet.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed that teams around the league are considering an offer for the future Hall-of-Famer.

“In recent weeks, multiple teams have been discussing whether they can trade for Steelers” standout T.J. Watt, who skipped the team’s most recent minicamp,” Schefter wrote on X. “Pittsburgh hasn’t shown any willingness to deal Watt so far, but he’s unhappy with his contractual situation and sources believe outside team interest is likely to increase given today’s trade.”

3??0?? DAYS UNTIL THE DRAFT

T.J. Watt was the 30th pick back in 2017. After 108 sacks and counting, we’d say the @steelers nailed that one @_TJWatt pic.twitter.com/J7kILMoqXt

— NFL (@NFL) March 25, 2025

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero was quick to suggest that Watt remains part of the Steelers” veteran-laden run for a Super Bowl in 2025.

“The Steelers have been loading up on veterans this offseason, acquiring Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Jonnu Smith, Darius Slay and Jalen Ramsey, among others. They’re all-in on 2025 and that plan includes T.J. Watt,” he wrote.

Still, with the shocking trade for Ramsey, everything seems possible in Pittsburgh now. And if there’s any chance that Watt can be pryed away from the Steelers, Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles has to pick up the phone and at least call.

The Bears’ need for an edge rusher has been well-documented this offseason. Poles signed Dayo Odeyingbo in free agency, and for all that Odeyingbo will bring to the roster, sacking quarterbacks isn’t his calling card.

Last year’s fifth-round pick, Austin Booker, remains a project with upside.

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

It would be a shame to waste another year of Montez Sweat’s prime without a quality running mate. And Watt wouldn’t just be a running mate, he’d be the best pure pass rusher the Bears have fielded since Richard Dent.

READ: Bears urged to sign pass rusher they missed out on in 2024

Granted, acquiring Watt wouldn’t be cheap. He’ll cost at least a first-round pick and then some. He’d also break the bank with a new massive contract.

Chicago has been down this road before when they traded for Khalil Mack on the eve of the 2018 season. The Bears felt like they were closing the gap on the rest of the NFL, and they viewed Mack as the piece that would put them over the hump. And he almost did. You know how the 2018 season ended, we don’t need to rehash that.

Whether the Steelers are willing to listen to blockbuster trade offers for T.J. Watt remains to be seen. But, if they are? I’d expect the Chicago Bears to make an aggressive attempt to land him. Opportunities to add a player like Watt rarely come around. Poles knows that, and he’d do right by the Bears. At the very least, he’ll throw Chicago’s hat in the ring.