The Indianapolis Colts need some help in the 2026 offseason, but let's be honest. What the team really needs is for key players to stay healthy. Should that happen next season, Indy could very well be a playoff team.
General manager Chris Ballard could also make a keen move to pinch a player from the Pittsburgh Steelers, too. Pittsburgh suffered another playoff loss in the Wild Card Round against the Houston Texans, and shortly afterward, 19-year head coach Mike Tomlin decided he was done.
He stepped down, and that could very well send Pittsburgh into turmoil. That likely means finding a new quarterback as aging Aaron Rodgers is obviously not a long-term option. The team could decide to tear things down a bit in hopes of a better future.
Indianapolis Colts should pinch TJ Watt during Pittsburgh Steelers meltdown
In contrast, for the Colts to become the kind of team that is extremely dangerous and could potentially win the Super Bowl, the defense has to be better. Assuming cornerback Sauce Gardner doesn't get injured again, the backend should be sound. Fellow corner Charvarius Ward is thinking about retirement after suffering three concussions this season, though.
Plus, Indy needs to rebuild its edge rusher group as only ascending third-year pro Laiatu Latu is consistently capable of putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks while also playing the run well. The Colts and Latu need help, and the Steelers could potentially offer that help.
Pittsburgh edge rusher TJ Watt is an elite player, and an expensive one for his team. The good part is that if he were available in a trade, the Steelers could listen to offers in hopes of getting trade value to help with a quick rebuild. Indianapolis could afford his deal. The Colts also have a player they could send to Pittsburgh that would open some cap room.
Should the Steelers trade Watt, a four-time First-Team All-Pro, they would save $32 million. If Indianapolis were to trade wide receiver Michael Pittman, the team would save $24 million. Pittsburgh needs a wide receiver after trading George Pickens last offseason, and as DK Metcalf certainly should not be the Steelers' only (somewhat) reliable receiver.
The Steelers would save money by giving Watt to the Colts for Pittman, plus Indy could give Pittsburgh a mid-round draft pick. Assuming Pittsburgh wants to do a rebuild without Mike Tomlin, giving the new quarterback help besides Metcalf is a must. The defense can survive without Watt.
On the Indianapolis Colts' side, if defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo returns, he would be able to make TJ Watt into the kind of player for Indy that Trey Hendrickson was for him in his years with the Cincinnati Bengals. The bottom line is the Colts would be better off with TJ Watt than Michael Pittman.