Best landing spots for JJ Watt
Last Friday the Houston Texans released arguably the franchises best player of all time. JJ Watt had been with the team for 9 years after his selection in the first round in 2011. His release came as a surprise to the entire league, as seen through Twitter over this past weekend. Many said the Texans were making a mistake by releasing the future hall of famer, but the organization was doing JJ a massive favor. With releasing him they’re giving him the opportunity to make the decision regarding his future on his own. And with this opportunity to make a decision on his own, there are plenty of landing spots for the star edge rusher, but what teams would suit JJ the best for the rest of his career?
There are currently a number of teams who have reached out to JJ about possibly joining their team. These include the Steelers, Browns, Bills and Titans. JJ is expected to join an organization who have a high chance to make a playoff push, for he’s toward the end of his career and would like to retire a champion.
The Steelers are a spot to watch, considering both of his brothers are on the team. A defensive duo of TJ and JJ would be one of the scariest sights for any opposing offensive line. JJ has single handedly won three defensive player of the year awards and has had multiple seasons with more than 20 sacks on his resumé. Additionally, TJ had arguably the best season of any defensive player last season and was undeniably robbed of defensive player of the year, with the award going to Aaron Donald.
Another landing spot that you should all watch is the Tennessee Titans. Last year the Titans had one of the WORST defenses in history, and are desperate to rebuild that side of the ball while they still have Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill under contract. Signing JJ would lift their defense so much higher than any other free agent and possibly entice their own free agents to consider coming back for a discounted price, something we will gladly dub the “Tom Brady effect.” Another aspect to joining the former division rival is just that, they are in the same division as the Texans. This signing would give JJ the opportunity to stick it to the McNair family for wasting his career, providing he has a desire to do this. And lastly, JJ has a familiarity with current Titans head coach, Mike Vrabel, due to his time on the Texans sideline. It would be a fun storyline and would cast an even larger shadow onto the Texans franchise, which we would all love to see.
Those are just two possible landing spots, but there are so many more. Any team with cap space and a potential to make the playoffs should be proactive in trying to bring JJ in for a meeting, and not let him get back on that plane. JJ is a once in a lifetime player and would take any defense to the next level. Not only is he incredibly talented and a hard worker, but he’s also an incredible leader, and would strengthen any young star. That being said, literally no one in the league should be out on him at this point. Do whatever it takes to sign this man. Make it happen.