Watt lands with Cardinals
DeAndre Hopkins has reeled in another miracle catch for the Cardinals.
Defensive end JJ Watt, a teammate of Hopkins’ for seven years with the Texans, posted pictures of himself on social media Monday working out in a Cardinals T-shirt.
The captions on Twitter and Instagram read, “source: me.” The team later confirmed it had reached a two-year deal with Watt.
ESPN reported the three-time defensive player of the year, who was granted his release last month after 10 seasons in Houston, received a $31 million pact with $23 million guaranteed.
Since Watt’s contract with the Texans was terminated, he is eligible to sign with any team immediately even though NFL free agency doesn’t officially begin until March 17.
In Arizona, Watt would join what appears to be an ascending team under coach Kliff Kingsburgy and quarterback Kyler Murray, both headed for their third seasons in the desert.
However, the Cardinals come off a disappointing finish to 2020, winding up with an 8-8 record – after a 6-3 start – that cost them a wildcard berth even in an expanded playoff field.
Hopkins, who famously hauled in the “Hail Murray” TD pass to beat the Bills last season, had relentlessly recruited the five-time All-Pro since his divorce from the Texans, who infamously traded Hopkins to Arizona in 2020.
He’d implored Watt to “finish what we started” in an Instagram post.
Watt will join a defense that finished 13th overall despite losing star linebacker Chandler Jones to a torn biceps after five games. Arizona’s pass rush could be quite formidable in 2021 with Watt joining Jones and potentially pending free agent Haason Reddick, who exploded for a career-best 12 1⁄2 sacks.
Monday morning, the Cardinals had $11 million in cap space, per Over The Cap, which means some restructures and player releases are likely given the size of Watt’s new deal. That could also make it hard to retain Reddick, 26, especially if the franchise tag is general manager Steve Keim’s only option.
Watt has 101 sacks in 128 career games and should fit snugly into his customary left end spot in coordinator Vance Joseph’s 3-4 defense. Joseph overlapped as a defensive assistant in Houston with Watt for three seasons (2011-13).
Though Watt’s five sacks in 2020 were a career low for him over a full season, it was enough to lead the Texans. He also had a team-high 17 quarterback hits and had a 19-yard pick-six in a Thanksgiving win at Detroit, where he gave a vintage performance.
The question is, how many of those are left inside a battered body that turns 32 this month? It should help being paired with Jones and/or Reddick rather than dealing with constant double teams. Watt’s value is also magnified by his staunch, and underrated, play against the run.
In the NFC West, that will be a valuable commodity given the frequency with which his new division rivals – the Rams, 49ers and Seahawks – keep the ball on the ground. Of course, Watt will doubtless embrace the opportunities to hunt Seattle’s Russell Wilson, LA’s Matthew Stafford and, presumably, San Francisco’s Jimmy Garoppolo.
A first-round pick of the Texans in 2011, Watt forfeited $17.5 million by asking out of his final year in Houston.