T.J. Watt was drafted No. 30 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin. 135 regular-season games · 9 seasons as a starter · 96 career approximate value
2017 NFL Draft · Rd 1, Pick 30 · #30 overall
T.J. Watt Wisconsin Draft
T.J. Watt was drafted No. 30 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin. 135 regular-season games · 9 seasons as a starter · 96 career approximate value
4× All-Pro 8× Pro Bowl
- Overall pick
- #30
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 2017
- NFL games
- 135
- Years as starter
- 9
- Career AV
- 963rd at Wisconsin
- Pro Bowls
- 8
- All-Pro
- 4
The pick
How T.J. Watt came off the board in 2017.
- Position
- Outside linebacker OLB
- College
-
Wisconsin
Big Ten at the draft
- Measurables
- 6'5" · 252 lbs
- Hometown
- Pewaukee, WI
- Pre-draft board
- No. 37 prospect86.0 grade
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
135 regular-season games · 9 seasons as a starter · 96 career approximate value
- Games played
- 135
- Seasons as a starter
- 9
- Career approximate value
- 963rd among Wisconsin picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 96100% of career value
- Final season
- 20258 years after the draft
- Accolades
- 4× All-Pro · 8× Pro Bowl
Around pick 30
Who came off the board on either side of T.J. Watt.
Michigan
Miami · 1× Pro Bowl
Alabama
Wisconsin in the 2017 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other OLB picks from Wisconsin
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
T.J. Watt in the 2017 NFL Draft
T.J. Watt is a Outside linebacker out of Wisconsin selected No. 30 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2017 NFL Draft. 135 regular-season games · 9 seasons as a starter · 96 career approximate value Wisconsin has produced 164 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was T.J. Watt drafted?
T.J. Watt was selected No. 30 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2017 NFL Draft (Rd 1, Pick 30). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2017/t-j-watt.
What college did T.J. Watt play for?
T.J. Watt played college football at Wisconsin in the Big Ten. See every Wisconsin draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/wisconsin-badgers.
How did T.J. Watt's NFL career turn out?
135 regular-season games · 9 seasons as a starter · 96 career approximate value Accolades: 4× All-Pro · 8× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2017/t-j-watt.