It was announced Friday morning that the Houston Texans would be moving on from 10-year vet J.J. Watt. Watt played his entire career in Houston thus far and was seen as the team leader by the entire organization and city.
Watt is a five-time pro-bowler and five-time first team All-Pro, and teams are going to be chomping at the bit for his services. It is still early on since the news of his release, but rumors are beginning to circulate on the newest and hottest free agent to hit the market.
In his ten seasons since being drafted, Watt has made it to playoffs five different seasons and played in eight total playoff games but has never made it past the divisional round. With that being said, it has become pretty apparent that Watt will be searching for a contender.
After going through some teams, I have narrowed down a few spots that we could see Watt signing with come March. The majority of the places that make sense for Watt remain in the AFC Conference, even within the same division as Houston, which I am sure the Texans would not want to happen.
The teams I have selected that make the most sense for Watt include: the Indianapolis Colts, the Miami Dolphins, the Cleveland Browns, the Baltimore Ravens, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Green Bay Packers.
Indianapolis Colts
The first place that makes the absolute perfect sense for Watt would be Houston’s rival, the Indianapolis Colts. According to Spotrac, the Colts have the second-most cap space in the NFL behind divisional rival Jacksonville. The Colts will be just one year removed from a playoff appearance and went toe-to-toe with AFC Conference runner-up, the Buffalo Bills.
Watt would fill a need for Indy on the defensive front and would solidify their fronts as one of the better ones in the league. Yes, the Colts have some work to do at the quarterback position since Phillip Rivers retired and has left the team in a vulnerable spot, but if they can swing Watt, they can follow that up with a splash at the quarterback position.
The Colts check the majority of the boxes for Watt, he would get the money he deserves, and he would be joining a contender. Not only that, but the Colts have something else that no other contender can offer; Watt can stay in the same division and have a chance to face off twice a year vs. Houston. Things did not end ugly between the two sides, but why wouldn’t Watt want a chance at revenge vs. his former team?
The question mark at quarterback may stray Watt away from Indy, but I like the chances of Jim Irsay and company landing a former nemesis.
Miami Dolphins
The next possible destination for Watt, the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins may have been the surprise team of the 2020 season, but with talent surrounding the roster and the number three overall selection in this draft, thanks to Watt’s former team, Miami is primed to be a contender.
Like Indy, Miami may be looking for a better option at quarterback than Tua Tagovailoa, but the Dolphins have better options than Indy does. The Dolphins currently sit at eighth in most cap space and can pay Watt whatever he asks for.
Although Miami has only four playoff appearances since the turn of the decade, they are ready to make that next jump. With an already dominant defense, bringing in Watt would potentially make them a top-three defense in the league and give them the potential to compete for the AFC East with the Bills.
And let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to live in Miami?
Cleveland Browns
Maybe the most surprising team on my list is the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland will be a year removed from a magical season that ended in defeat to the Super Bowl runner-up, the Kansas City Chiefs. Like the rest of the teams already listed, the Browns have more than enough money to satisfy the defensive end and make the signing that could be a franchise-altering move.
The most intriguing aspect of the Browns compared to those teams listed so far. They have the offensive firepower. The Browns are not just one-dimensional and match up well with some of the best offenses in the league. Another offseason of learning Kevin Stefanski’s system will only benefit the young squad.
If they aren’t already, Watt would make the Browns the AFC North favorite in my eyes.
Baltimore Ravens
The second of three AFC North teams listed is up next, the Baltimore Ravens. If you’ve made it this far into my ramblings, you know the importance of money. The Ravens, like the rest, have enough money to bring in Watt.
Although Watt wants to play for a contender and wants a shot at his first super bowl, he will still want to do it at the right price. The man will not play for free.
Watt was making an average of $16 million per year in Houston. I don’t think he’ll ask for anything near that – he’d be crazy too – I do believe he’ll ask for something between an average of $7 – $10 million per year.
This is something that the Ravens can offer.
Last season the Ravens played down to what their hype and expectations were, it was part of the growing pains for a young offense. The noise outside Baltimore was that opposing defenses figured out Lamar Jackson and the high-flying offense. And yes, the reigning MVP – at that time – didn’t play up to par, but he still got his team to the AFC Divisional Round.
If the struggles continue next season, panic should ensue, but I do believe John Harbaugh has enough experience under his belt to clear the hurdle. Jackson cleared the hurdle of never winning a playoff game, and now is the time for more. That “more” is Watt.
A pass rush that includes Calais Campbell, Yannick Ngakoue, and Watt, I want no part of that.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The final AFC North team listed above is next on the list, the Pittsburgh Steelers. This explanation will be rather short.
There is only one reason they are listed on here, and I’m sure you have already guessed it. If the Steelers could get out of the cap hole they are in, they can bring Watt and reunite him with his brothers T.J. and Derek.
The Steelers currently sit at -$14 million in cap and have a long way to go to make room for the All-Pro defensive end. The Steelers should be considered contenders and are coming off a season where they started 11-0 and made the playoffs.
Following the 11-0 start, they severely fell off the wagon and crumbled, which could lead Watt to being skeptical of going to the steel city.
Green Bay Packers
And last but not least, the final team mentioned the Green Bay Packers. Watt is from Wisconsin and played college ball at the University of Wisconsin. A homecoming would be everything Packer fans want and more.
Now, here’s the problem.
The Packers are potentially in a worse cap situation than Pittsburgh is. They have no room to sign the Waukesha native. They will need to do a major haul of the roster, which will include cuts, contract restructures, and more if they want an actual shot of signing Watt.
If they decide to go all-in and clear the room, the Packers should have the biggest appeal to Watt, though. Green Bay being his home-town team, is a great selling point, but mainly because of the position the Packers are in.
Green Bay is the back-to-back NFC Conference runner-up and have made it that far three times in the past five seasons. Packer fans around the globe are hoping Watt is the piece to get them over that hump and back competing for the Lombardi Trophy.
I’m skeptical that the Packers are a landing spot, considering they have no cash and may be focused on bringing back key free agents like running back Aaron Jones and center Corey Linsley, but the rest of the world seems in on a Packers Watt relationship, so I have added them on to the list.
Possible Others
Some outside teams that weren’t mentioned here that you should keep an eye on are the Arizona Cardinals and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
I decided to leave the defending champs off this list specifically because of their impending free agents. They have a lot of key guys I’m sure they want to lock up rather than go after Watt.
Those guys include Shaquil Barrett, Lavonte David, Rob Gronkowski – if he doesn’t retire again – Ndamukong Suh, Leonard Fournette, Antonio Brown, and Chris Godwin. Those are a lot of big names that helped make the Bucs Champions and names that Tom Brady personally loves.
As for the Cardinals, they were left off the list simply because I’m not sure if they are ready for that leap of being contenders. I love what I’m seeing from Kliff Kingsbury, and they have a good setup in terms of their roster, but I don’t see a connection there.
DeAndre Hopkins will help pursue his former teammate, as he has already been public about that, but it still seems unrealistic to me.
Watt will make his decision soon enough, and I will be surprised if it’s not one of the teams mentioned here. I personally think the Colts will land the big-name superstar.
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