WELCOME, WATT
Veteran signs two-year deal DT could be what Cardinals need
J.J. Watt is joining the Arizona Cardinals. Watt first broke the news himself Monday on Twitter, and the Cardinals officially announced that they have agreed to terms with the defensive end shortly thereafter.
A three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Watt tweeted out a picture of himself working out in a Cardinals Tshirt with the caption "source: me."
Watt, who turns 32 later this month, played his first 10 years in the league with the Houston Texans, and now rejoins teammate DeAndre Hopkins in Arizona. He also reunites with defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who spent 2011 to 2013 on the Houston staff as defensive backs coach.
Watt has recorded 101.0 sacks, 25 forced fumbles, 16 fumble recoveries, 282 quarterback hits, 172 tackles for loss, 531 tackles (409 solo), two inter
The last time the Cardinals brought in a big-name veteran edge rusher to pair with sack specialist Chandler Jones, it ended in failure.
Terrell Suggs didn’t even last the whole season in 2019. There were hopeful expectations he could make a difference upon signing a one-year, $7 million deal in Arizona, but after a handful of games it became apparent he was on the downside of his career and didn’t have much left to contribute.
He agreed it wasn’t working out and by December, was given his release, which he used to hook on with the Kansas City Chiefs and ultimately win another Super Bowl ring.
Suggs was 37.
J.J. Watt is 31.
The age difference is important to note, but it only matters if Watt can stay healthy and productive upon Monday’s breaking news that he agreed to a twoyear, free-agent contract with the Cardinals. The deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, is worth $31 mil
ceptions, and 26 multi-sack games in his career. He has started all 128 games he appeared in, and has started all 16 games seven times in 10 seasons. Watt has missed time from injuries in three of the last five years, but played all 16 games in 2020, with five sacks and 52 combined tackles.
On Feb. 12, Watt requested a release from the Texans, which the team granted. In a video on Twitter, Watt said that they "mutually agreed to part ways at this time." Next came a few weeks of speculation, as Watt navigated free agency.
His three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards came in a four-year span, and are tied with Rams Aaron Donald and Giants LB Lawrence Taylor for the most in NFL history. Watt is the only player in league history to have multiple seasons of 20.0 or more sacks, with 20.5 in both 2012 and 2014.
He now teams up with Cardinals defensive end Chandler Jones. The two have compiled the most sacks in the league since Jones was drafted in 2012. Jones has 97 sacks, while Watt has 95.5 over that span. Jones played just five games in 2020 before he was placed on injured reserve for a biceps injury.
Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Cardinals "are giving J.J. Watt a 2-year deal worth $31 (million) with $23 (million) guaranteed."
After making his announcement Monday, Watt later posted on both Twitter and Instagram photos about flying to Arizona, including a picture with Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill outside the plane, and a picture inside with Chicago Red Stars forward and wife, Kealia Ohai Watt.
"(Pretty) convenient the owner is also a pilot ... see you soon (Arizona Cardinals)," Watt captioned it.
His new teammates seemed equally excited. Hopkins tweeted out that "Life is good in Arizona!" while quarterback Kyler Murray shared a picture from meeting Watt as a senior in high school.
Defensive lineman Jordan Phillips asked what many opposing coaches may be wondering as well: "Who are you gonna double now?"
And while ecstatic as well, Jones added to the flurry of tweets sharing that he will also "feel bad" for Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson.
A Wisconsin native, Watt played one year at Central Michigan before playing two years at Wisconsin. He was the 11th pick overall of the 2011 draft.
Outside of his defensive efforts, Watt has made a huge humanitarian impact during his time in the league. In 2017, he was selected as both the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year and the Sports Illustrated Person of the Year. His foundation has worked across the country, with massive efforts in Houston after Hurricane Harvey devastated the region in 2017.