Philadelphia, PA – July 2, 2025
What happens when sports radio leaves reality and dives headfirst into fantasy? You get a trade proposal so controversial it splits the city in half—and maybe, just maybe, reveals something deeper about how much Philly values its own.
This week, 94WIP’s midday show tossed a live grenade into Eagles Nation by proposing the unthinkable: trading away 24-year-old Nolan Smith Jr.—one of the team’s most beloved young defenders—and a Day 3 pick to acquire Pittsburgh’s holdout superstar EDGE, T.J. Watt. Just like that, what began as a casual “what if” spiraled into full-blown outrage, analysis, and locker room loyalty wars.
At the center of this hypothetical storm is Watt, who’s locked in a contract standoff with the Steelers. Rumors have swirled about whether he’ll be extended at Myles Garrett-level money ($40M+ per year) or shopped to the highest bidder. The Eagles, as always, were quickly dragged into the narrative. With cap space, aggressive history, and 2026 draft capital, Philly fits the mold of a potential aggressor.
But what about the cost?
“The more I think about it, the more I think the Eagles should be willing to part with one of their great young players plus a draft pick for T.J. Watt,” argued WIP’s Eliot Shorr-Parks. “The window to win is now. Adding Watt makes every single player on the team — offense and defense — better.”
That bold stance ignited immediate pushback. To many fans, Nolan Smith represents more than just potential—he’s the heartbeat of a new defensive generation. “Nolan Smith is going to be a monster on and off the field for the next 10 years,” one listener fired back. “He’s a culture guy. He’s got that Brandon Graham aura about him.”
And there’s truth to that sentiment. Smith isn’t just ascending—he’s controllable through 2027, already a Super Bowl champion, and widely respected in the locker room. Trading him, even for someone as elite as Watt, feels to many like mortgaging the soul of the team for a short-term swing.
Still, others argue emotion can’t cloud championship logic. “T.J. Watt is a generational pass rusher. If he’s available, you take the shot,” said one analyst on The Philly Special Show. “But only if you’re ready to pay and he’s ready to play.”
Because that’s the catch. Watt, if traded without an extension in place, could hold out entirely. The risk isn’t just losing Smith—it’s losing Smith and watching Watt sit on the sidelines in protest.
So, would Howie Roseman even consider it?
Probably not. But that’s not the point.
The point is, this debate cuts to the core of what it means to build a team in Philadelphia. Do you chase the flash, or protect the foundation? Do you trust in youth and identity, or swing for the stars with proven power?
In a summer short on action, this question has legs. And while the actual deal is unlikely, the emotions it stirs are very, very real.
Let the firestorm continue. And stay tuned to ESPN.
