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JJ Watt Released By Texans & Possible Landing Spots

Connor Ryan

Happy Friday to one and all except for the Houston Texans.

Today they made the SHOCKING announcement that they were releasing their greatest player in their brief franchise history in JJ Watt.

A few months ago I wrote a blog detailing the Texans possibly trading Watt from Houston. During a lost season, and when we all thought Deshaun Watson would be around for awhile to build a contending team around.

My oh my how things have changed.

He Watted Out

So what makes it less of a terrible decision by the Texans is that Watt asked for his release. Hard to deny the guy that his given the better part of his hall of fame career to you.

I can’t Balme Watt. Houston is an absolute mess right now and if Deshaun Watson wants out, I wouldn’t blame anyone who says the same.

Still I can’t help but wonder if the Texans could have made a trade work. And perhaps they kicked the tires around for awhile and once it became clear that they weren’t going to get anything substantial, let Watt go free.

This doesn’t hurt JJ’s legacy. It’s rather a giant indictment against the Houston Texans as an organization. The two faces of your franchise have asked to just leave in the matter of a month. Not a coaching change, not a commitment to a certain position in free agency or the draft, they just want out.

Watt’s His Worth

So heading into the 2021 season, Watt was going to be $17.5 million against the cap.

I don’t see the soon to be 32 year old making that much on the open market. And the fact that he’s being released, rather than traded solidifies my statement.

He’s played in all 16 games just twice over the last five seasons. In 2018 when he recorded 18 sacks and last season when he racked up 5.

In his prime from 2012-2015 Watt made the All-Pro team every season. He also recorded a total of 69 (nice) sacks, an average of 17.3 per season over 64 games.

In the five seasons following that, from 2016 to the present he has played in 48 games and registered 26.5 sacks, for an average of 5.3 a season.

He is a player in clear decline from what he use to be. His name still holds weight and he could be a fantastic locker room influence, but no team is getting the JJ Watt we all remember.

Potential Landing Watt’s (Spots)

New England Patriots

Let’s start here because why not. Whenever there is an aging superstar Bill Belichick’s name always gets added to the mix in the hopes of a low risk, high reward deal.

In past seasons, I could see this working. The Patriots with Tom Brady under center were always a ring chasing option for super stars who didn’t care about the money.

Unfortunately that’s not the case anymore.

And look at it from Watt’s perspective.

The Pats in their first year without Brady went 7-9. Granted they had some defensive opt outs but not enough of a dramatic change to suddenly push the Pats to 12-4 next year.

The Houston Texans with adding Nick Caserio as their general manager are doubling down on the failed experiment of bringing “The Patriot Way” to Houston. So why go to Foxboro where they live and breath that same culture?

And while Tom Curran said that the Patriots would be “uncharacteristically aggressive this offseason” I don’t see that statement meaning Belichick will offer Watt way more than another team just because he has the cap room ($62.7 million) to do so.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Now this one is a legit possibility for Watt as Tampa has $15.1 million in cap space this offseason.

Tampa just won the Super Bowl and from all accounts it sounds like they are ready to run it back with Brady guaranteeing that he wasn’t going anywhere.

And with Brady playing pseudo general manager, adding pieces like Gronk, Antonio Brown and Leonard Fournette. It seems like the type of place for aging superstars to give their last bit of football to in the hopes of winning that ever elusive ring.

Adrian Peterson wants in on what’s already such a crowded backfield that did you even realize LeSean McCoy just won a ring in Tampa?

Watt had to have just watched what Todd Bowles and that defense did to the best offense in the NFL last week. It seems like a no brainer for a guy who would be willing to sacrifice dollars for wins.

It’s an alluring spot to land for an established player. Play alongside the GOAT, enjoy the warm weather, and chase a ring.

Cleveland Browns

This is a fascinating one to me and I can see it happening. The Browns know that their window to compete is NOW. They were a Chad Henne scramble away from possibly knocking off Kansas City in the post season.

They know that they have to win now before they’re forced to actually pay Baker Mayfield.

So why not take a run at a guy like Watt? And for Watt, you get a chance to help lead a young defense, finally get one on one blocks with Myles Garrett soaking up the double teams, and a chance to become a legend in a football crazed city.

With $21.6 million in cap space, it’s an easy transaction for the Browns and Watt.

Indianapolis Colts

With $69.2 million in cap space the Colts are in a fascinating situation.

They have a ready to win right now roster built. Good offensive line, decent weapons on offense and an underrated defense anchored by Darius Leonard. Adding a guy like Watt could make them a real dangerous threat.

And with that much cap space, they can afford to be agressive in free agency and the draft via trades for disgruntled stars with large contracts.

But the biggest question for the Colts is at quarterback. They don’t have one.

Rivers is retired and we saw what that roster could do despite his shaky play.

They are picking in the back half of the draft, not an ideal spot to be to go grab a Fields, Wilson or Lance to turn things around. And they lost out on the Matt Stafford sweep stakes.

So for JJ Watt, while that looks like a somewhat enticing landing spot there is a giant question that needs to be asked if he visits them.

Baltimore Ravens

Much like the Cleveland Browns the Ravens are in a very similar boat. Plenty of cap space ($19.7 million) for now.

Their championship window is certainly open but when they have to inevitably pay Lamar Jackson, how good will they be?

If you’re the Ravens, Watt probably isn’t your top priority. Finding receiving weapons for Jackson is. But Watt could still be a fun and useful piece to add to a defense. They’ve also made a similar move last off season trading for Calais Campbell

And for Watt, it’s another situation of sacrificing a few dollars in exchange for wins and a chance at a ring.

It would also be fun to see a Watt vs. Watt matchup on either the Browns or Ravens when they play the Steelers. There are people who think maybe he teams up with his little brother TJ on the Steelers but I don’t see that happening. Which makes Browns or Ravens that much more fun.

San Francisco 49ers

The Niners are better than what they were last year. Injuries crippled their young star studded roster, and even though the NFC West is a vipers nest of talent, they can still win that division.

Watt could easily slide into that defense and make an impact and be on a winning football team.

It will be interesting to see how that defense performs without Robert Salah calling the shots. But much like Tampa Bay, as an aging player go enjoy the California weather and sunshine. And like Cleveland, enjoy the one on one blocks as Nick Bosa draws the double teams.

Miami Dolphins

Another team that I had named in my original blog and I feel stronger about them today.

Miami has $28.7 million in cap room and is already known for a young and stingy defense. Brian Flores seems like the next best thing as a young, up and coming head coach. He has successfully turned around a desolate franchise all while having Ryan Fitzpatrick as his quarterback.

And what if Miami pulls the trigger and makes a deal for Deshaun Watson work? I can’t help but feel as though Watt would be enticed to follow his quarterback to Miami and try and win a title together there.

Green Bay Packers

I’m not NFL cap space whiz, but when I try to sign players in Madden when my team is over the cap, I usually can’t.

Green Bay is a whopping $28.1 million over the cap. They are 28th in the league in terms of cap space.

However I’m sure there are loopholes to be exposed and strings to be pulled to bring in JJ Watt on a minimally cheap deal, that’s heavily laced with incentives.

For Watt it would be a homecoming of sorts for the former Wisconsin Badger. #99 Watt, Packer jerseys would fly off the shelves in the land of cheeseheads, and it would be a dream come true for anyone who lives within a five mile radius of a Culver’s.

For Watt it makes sense. Sacrifice the money for a chance to win and play alongside league MVP Aaron Rodgers and a team that was a game away from the Super Bowl this year.

It makes a ton of sense if they can make the money somehow work.

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Connor Ryan (@connoryan68/@PodVerbalCommit/@YourFantasy_CGS)

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