The Chicago Bears may prioritize selecting a new edge rusher early in the 2025 NFL Draft next week, but recent trade rumors involving one of the league’s top talents suggest that one final call could be worth making.
Last week, Pittsburgh Steelers star pass rusher T.J. Watt sparked trade speculation when he posted a photo on Instagram of himself flashing the “peace out” sign. Some interpreted this as a sign that Watt — whose $112 million contract expires after 2025 — may be unhappy with the lack of progress in contract negotiations.
If Watt does indeed want out of Pittsburgh, Bleacher Report’s Kurt Benkert suggests that the Bears could emerge as one of his primary suitors. He even proposed a trade scenario where the Bears would send multiple high-value draft picks to acquire the seven-time Pro Bowler.
The suggested trade would have the Bears sending their 2025 first-round pick (No. 10), along with their 2026 first- and second-round picks, to acquire Watt. The Bears would then need to negotiate a new contract with Watt before the season starts — or find a way to reduce his $30 million cap hit in the final year of his deal.
“They can afford to pay him, especially with a quarterback on a rookie deal,” Benkert said. “The Bears have a young team, a capable offensive coordinator, and a head coach who can execute. They need someone who can create pressure. The Bears have the draft capital to pull this off.”
If the Bears manage to pull off a trade for Watt, it would be a major move — potentially even more impactful than the 2018 trade for All-Pro pass rusher Khalil Mack.
Over the past eight seasons, Watt has been one of the NFL’s most dominant defensive players, accumulating 108 sacks and 225 quarterback hits in 121 starts for the Steelers. He was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and has earned Pro Bowl honors every season since 2016, including in 2022, despite playing only 10 games.
Adding Watt to the Bears’ defensive line, alongside Montez Sweat and the newly signed Dayo Odeyingbo, could provide a game-changing edge rusher and elevate their Super Bowl aspirations for the next few years.
However, trading for Watt is not without its risks.
While the Bears could likely afford the high trade cost if they believe Watt can perform like he did in 2023 (19 sacks, first-team All-Pro), negotiating a fair contract extension could prove difficult. The Bears are already heavily invested in their defensive line with Sweat and Odeyingbo.
According to Over the Cap, the Bears are projected to have $54 million in cap space for the 2026 season, which could be enough for moves but may not suffice for a contract extension at the level of Myles Garrett’s new deal — which set the market at $40 million annually.
The rumors surrounding Watt’s future are similar to the trade speculation that earlier surrounded Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett in the 2025 off season.
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