First Call: Steelers advance rule change idea; Armon Watts now a Patriot
Share this post:
Thursday’s “First Call” features a Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman defecting to the New England Patriots. The Steelers are making a rules change proposal. A former Pitt star is returning to a familiar NFL destination. And an AFC North rival is trying to wedge his way out of town.
No Wattage
Defensive lineman Armon Watts is leaving the Steelers and joining the Patriots. That’s according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Watts’ new deal will be worth up to $3 million.
The #Patriots are signing veteran DT Armon Watts, per his agents @davidcanter @NessMugrabi @IanGrutman of @gsefootball. Watts has played in 72 career games (22 starts), most recently with Pittsburgh.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 13, 2024
Watts signed a one-year, $1.23 million contract with the Steelers last year. The 27-year-old played in 15 games. He logged 273 snaps, 25% of the Steelers’ total. That resulted in half a sack and 15 tackles (six solo).
This will be Watts’ fourth team in four years. Behind Cameron Heyward, Keeanu Benton and Larry Oginjobi, the Steelers still have the likes of Montravius Adams, , DeMarvin Leal, Isaiah Loudermilk and Breiden Fehoko along the defensive front.
Just putting it out there
It’s NFL rules change proposal time, and the Steelers are floating one out for everyone’s consideration.
According to a release from the NFL, the Steelers have submitted a bylaw change proposal. They want the trade deadline to be moved back, beginning in 2024.
The current trade deadline is on the Tuesday between Week 8 and Week 9. The Steelers are asking that it be pushed back one week to the Tuesday between Week 9 and Week 10.
Could that have anything to do with the fact that they lost inside linebackers Cole Holcomb in Week 9 and Kwon Alexander in Week 10?
Nah, I’m sure that was a complete coincidence!
But, honestly, I do see the reasoning for pushing things back a week.
Six other teams — Browns, Lions, Jets, Eagles, 49ers and Commanders — are proposing moving it back one week further, to between Weeks 10 and 11.
All the NFL proposal changes will be voted on during the NFL Annual League Meeting later this month in Orlando.
More sports
• Tim Benz: Diontae Johnson trade reconfigures Steelers’ priorities
• U mad, bro?: Steelers fans love the Russell Wilson signing (and hate me because I don’t love it as much as they do)
• QB Mason Rudolph exits Steelers, signs free-agent contract with Titans
Back where it all began
Jordan Whitehead has a new contract, as he is going back to where his career started.
Well, his pro career anyway.
No, the 26-year-old Central Valley graduate isn’t joining the Steelers. He’s reuniting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That’s according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media.
He says the Pitt product has inked a $9 million deal with the Bucs. With incentives, that deal could reach $10.5 million.
The #Bucs are bringing back S Jordan Whitehead on a 2-year deal worth $9M, source said (as @LeroyInsider reported). A max value of $10.5M.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2024
Whitehead was selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. He spent his first four seasons with the franchise, winning a ring in Super Bowl LV at the end of the 2020 season.
From there, Whitehead joined the New York Jets in 2022. Durability has been a hallmark of his, starting 34 games in a row there, staying on the field for 97% of the snaps over that time.
In 93 career games, Whitehead has 11 interceptions and 42 passes defensed. In 2023, the former Panther tallied a career-high four interceptions and half-sack.
Tee’s trade talk
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has gone on record requesting a trade after getting the franchise tag. The Bengals have allowed him to seek one.
Now we have an idea which teams he may like to join.
NBC Sports’ Lawrence Jackson Jr. posted a clip from an interview he conducted with Higgins a month ago. In it, Higgins opined about which quarterbacks he may like to play with someday.
• Houston’s Rookie of the Year, C.J. Stroud
• Higgins’ ex-Clemson teammate Trevor Lawrence
• Division champions Josh Allen in Buffalo and Lamar Jackson in Baltimore
Tee Higgins requesting a trade ain't a big shock— that's the biz
a month ago he told me some QB’s he'd like to team up with if hes not a Bengal pic.twitter.com/riomtiUyKT
— Lawrence Jackson Jr. ???? (@LordDontLose) March 11, 2024
The fact that all those teams are fellow AFC contenders makes it a lot less likely Higgins will get his wish to join any of those clubs.
The 25-year-old pass-catcher is entering his fifth year. He has 257 receptions for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns in 58 career regular-season games. In the playoffs, he has totaled 31 catches for 457 yards and three touchdowns.
By having the tag placed on him, Higgins is at least guaranteed a $21.816 million contract for the 2024 season — if he signs it. Higgins and the Bengals can negotiate a multi-year deal through July 15.
The tag gives the Bengals the right to match any contract offer the wide receiver may get from another team. Cincinnati would receive two first-round picks if they don’t match.