The Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers both have a quarterback problem. The Steelers still don’t have a starter as they continue to wait for Aaron Rodgers, and San Francisco’s starter, Brock Purdy, is seeking a new contract — but the two sides have yet to come to an agreement.
As contract talks between Purdy and the 49ers continue, there has been no shortage of trade speculation surrounding the former seventh-round pick, with analysts believing he could be traded if the Niners don’t want to pay him the market-resetting deal he may very well be seeking.
Recently, former NFL player and ESPN analyst Chris Canty proposed a blockbuster trade between the 49ers and Steelers that would send Purdy to Pittsburgh in exchange for T.J. Watt and the Steelers’ No. 21 overall pick. Canty also believes the Niners could replace Purdy by drafting a quarterback at No. 11 overall.
“Using T.J. Watt as a way to be able to pry Brock Purdy from San Francisco,” Canty said.
“The 49ers 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.”
He continued:
“[The 49ers] got 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.”
Like Purdy, Watt is also seeking an extension, but things don’t appear to be going smoothly, which has led to speculation about his future. Watt made a cryptic post to social media, and reports suggest there might be something to it.
🧠 What it means for both teams
The 49ers would actually have a few quarterback options in this scenario. On top of being able to draft a QB, the Niners could bring in Aaron Rodgers for a year or two as a bridge, helping them stay in win-now mode while grooming a younger QB.
San Francisco has lost a lot of defensive talent this offseason, so adding an elite edge rusher like T.J. Watt would fast-track their retooling on that side of the ball. They’d still need to extend Watt, but they have the cap space to manage that.
For the Steelers, adding Purdy solves their QB issue, and they have the flexibility to offer him an extension. However, losing Watt would be a massive blow, both to the defense and to their playoff hopes in 2025 — and giving up a first-round pick further limits options.
Final thoughts
At the end of the day, it’s hard to imagine the 49ers trading away a 25-year-old QB who just led them to a Super Bowl. It’s also difficult to envision Pittsburgh parting with a seven-time Pro Bowler like Watt.
But… it’s not outlandish to think the Steelers would pursue Purdy — just maybe with a different trade package.
