1 week Ago By Panthers Wire
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt raised some eyebrows with an Instagram story this past Wednesday, when he posted a caption-less picture of himself throwing up the deuces.
Between Watt's seemingly fruitless contract talks and the Steelers' drawn-out pursuit of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, many believe the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year and four-time first-team All-Pro could be sending a message that he's seriously fed up with the organization.If things get really serious, perhaps Watt forces his way out of Pittsburgh. And if that's ultimately the case, then the Carolina Panthers—according to Andrew Vasquez of Steelers Wire—could be a potential suitor for the 30-year-old sack artist.
Vasquez, who named Carolina as one of five possible trade destinations for Watt, writes:Carolina hasn't fully figured out how to fill the void left by trading away star edge rusher Brian Burns—but Watt would definitely suffice. While Watt would likely prefer a Super Bowl contender, money talks—and the Panthers could make him the highest-paid edge defender in the NFL.The Panthers already had trouble getting to opposing quarterbacks with Burns, as their 27 sacks from 2023 ranked last in the NFL.
They were able to up the production a tick to 32 sacks following his departure in 2024, but the defense still amassed a league-low 16.2-percent pressure rate.Watt recorded 30.
5 sacks over the last two seasons, including an NFL-best 19.0 takedowns in 2023.Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: NFL trade rumors: Panthers named potential destination for T.J. Watt.
