First Call: Skepticism over T.J. Watt yielding a 1st-round pick in a trade; Larry Fitzgerald's son chooses college
We wrap up an extended holiday weekend with Monday’s “First Call.” It features a schism between T.J. Watt’s trade value and his contract demands. A former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver is trying to find a way back into the NFL. A renowned Pitt alum has a son who will be attending Notre Dame.
And an ex-Penguin is sticking around with his latest team and will remain a Metropolitan Division rival.
What’s Watt worth?
The NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero was on the Rich Eisen show before the holiday weekend. He said that we should expect to see T.J. Watt sign in Pittsburgh for more money than Myles Garrett’s contract in Cleveland.
“I believe that they will find a way, if not before training camp then before the season, to get that done,” Pelissero said Thursday. “It is going to be north of Myles Garrett. It is going to be upwards of $40 million per year. … I believe we are going to see a reset in the edge market again.”
???? @TomPelissero
What's the latest in the TJ Watt v. #HereWeGo contract showdown?#NFL pic.twitter.com/O0sOLbMvBg
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) July 3, 2025
If the Steelers don’t want to pay that, though, what can they expect in return if they try to trade Watt? Pelissero says don’t expect a first-round pick.
“Is somebody giving up a first-round pick and more for T.J. Watt? Never say never, but when the Bengals were shopping Trey Hendrickson earlier this offseason, they were asking for a first-round pick. They weren’t being offered a first-round pick for a guy who led the league in sacks last year,” Pelissero said. “They’re almost the exact same age (30-years old). They’re both asking for a new contract. Trey Hendrickson has been asking for less than T.J. Watt has been asking for, and they didn’t get offered a (No.) 1.”
If that’s the case for the Steelers — and Cincinnati, for that matter — then both teams may want to reconsider their positions if they start leaning toward paying such demands to these players.
If neither one is really worth a first-round draft pick in currency (assuming that the acquiring team would work out a contract with Watt/Hendrickson in the process of the trade), then is either player really worth a $40 million per-year deal in actual money to stay in town?
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Looking for a comeback
Chase Claypool is letting the world know he wants to get back into the NFL.
The former Steeler was released in August with an injury settlement by the Buffalo Bills after he suffered a toe injury. He had just been signed by the organization three months earlier.
Now Claypool says he’s healthy and ready to make an impact on the field if a team gives him a chance.
“I tore a ligament and a tendon in my second toe and have been rehabbing, working out, and recovering every day for the past year,” Claypool posted Friday. “I am back to being the strongest and fastest I’ve ever been, and couldn’t be more excited to step back out on the field and let my actions speak for themselves. I deeply and truly believe that the pieces will align, and I will work my way into the position to show off what’s been suppressed these last two years.”
After the Steelers traded Claypool to the Chicago Bears on Nov. 1, 2022, the Notre Dame product was dealt to Miami 11 months later.
He then latched on with Buffalo in May 2024.
Fitz to the Fighting Irish
One of Pitt’s legendary players has a son who is heading into the world of big-time college football. But he won’t be playing with his dad’s alma mater.
Devin Fitzgerald, the son of former Panther great Larry Fitzgerald, is heading to Notre Dame. That’s according to Eli Lederman of ESPN.com.
Fitzgerald is a wide receiver from Arizona’s Brophy Prep. UCLA was his other top choice. Lederman has Fitzgerald as a three-star recruit and ESPN’s 71st-ranked wide receiver prospect in the 2026 class. Notre Dame is fourth in ESPN’s latest class rankings for 2026.
Fitzgerald’s father was an All-American and Heisman runner-up at Pitt in 2003. He was taken by the Arizona Cardinals as the fourth pick in the 2024 draft and played 17 years for them, posting 1,432 receptions for 17,492 yards (second all-time in both categories) and 121 touchdowns.
Other incoming receivers for Notre Dame include Jerome Bettis Jr. (the son of former Pittsburgh Steeler Jerome Bettis), Elijah Burress (ex-Steelers Plaxico Burress’ son) and Kaydon Finley (the son of former Green Bay Packer Jermichael Finley).
No need to move on
Former Penguin Anthony Beauvillier may be from Quebec. But he celebrated the Fourth of July by deciding that he would stay in the nation’s capital.
The Pens traded Beauvillier to Washington at the trade deadline in March. They got a second-round pick in return. He posted five points in 18 regular-season games and six points in 10 playoff games.
Apparently, that was good enough to earn a two-year $5.5 million contract from the Capitals.
BEAUVI’S BACK‼️
The Washington Capitals have re-signed forward Anthony Beauvillier to a two-year, $5.5 million contract extension. Beauvillier's contract will carry an average annual value of $2.75 million.#ALLCAPS | @Shift4
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 3, 2025
Some other former Penguins who are still available via free agency include Matt Grzelcyk, Jan Rutta, Conor Sheary and Daniel Sprong.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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