The Houston Texans Superstar Escape is in full swing!
Top defender JJ Watt was redeemed and released by the Chaos team at his own request, quarterback Deshaun Watson also wants to leave, star reiceiver DeAndre Hopkins (Trade 2020) and top safety tyrant Mathieu (free agent 2019) are already there.
Watt has been slowed down by injuries in recent years and did not always shine in the playoffs. Last season, he made all 16 games for the first time since 2015. (NEWS: Everything you need to know about the NFL)
Five sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception are manageable numbers for a quarterback hunter in his class – but also owed to the weak Texans-D, in which opponents could concentrate fully on stopping Watt.
There is definitely no shortage of interested parties for Watt, especially since the superstar is available for free. According to media reports, around a dozen teams are chasing the defensive end. Watts wish is clear after many wasted years in Houston: He wants to have a chance at the Super Bowl. SPORT1 shows possible landing spots for Watt.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Before they completely collapsed at the end of the season, the Steelers looked like an extremely hot Super Bowl candidate, starting the season with eleven wins in a row.
Additional bonus: Watts younger brothers TJ (linebacker) and Derek (fullback) are already playing in Pittsburgh and can make the change attractive to him – TJ advertised on Twitter after the dismissal became known.
In terms of cap space, the Steelers would have to shovel space for the superstar to play with his brothers, but Watt could also accept certain compromises. With quarterback nightmare TJ (15 sacks last season), JJ Watt could make a scary duo of brothers on defense.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Another superstar for the Super Bowl winner – why not !? Tom Brady and Co. should definitely have enough attraction for Watt. “Tom is unbelievable, the best of all time,” raved the star defender last time in the The Tonight Show.
The Bucs-D is already brutally good and literally dismantled Patrick Mahome’s phenomenon in the Tampa final. Here Watt could probably deliver more again with less special security.
Tampa has a lot of cap space – but also tons of large free agents. Shaquil Barrett and Ndamukong Suh from the D-Line, offensive performers like Chris Godwin, Rob Gronkowski or Leonard Fournette without a valid deal for the coming season.
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BUFFALO BILLS
With the young quarterback Josh Allen and receiver Stevon Diggs, the Bills have an outstanding duo in the offense, and the D is already good.
Only the Chiefs with Mahomes stood in the way of entering the Super Bowl this year.
The Bills can scoop up enough salary for Watt and receiver Diggs tweeted the star defender – he had something to say to him …
CLEVELAND BROWNS
The former loser team is now a playoff guest and threw the Steelers out there last season in a spectacle. Myles Garrett (twelve sacks last season) is a stellar QB hunter, Watt would be a perfect match.
Olivier Vernon is a free agent and injured anyway, Adrian Clayborn could even fire the Browns in order to secure Watt as a fat upgrade for the already strong D – and one it will need to stop Mahomes in the playoffs (see Super Bowl).
In addition, Watt would play against division rival Steelers with his two brothers twice a year – also attractive.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
As long as Aaron Rodgers throws the balls at Cheese Heads, the Packers will always be a Super Bowl candidate. An upgrade in defense could help, which showed itself as holey like a Swiss cheese against Brady and the Bucs in the playoffs at the crucial moment.
For Watt it would also be a return to his homeland, he also studied at the University of Wisconsin, was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin and was an ardent Packers fan as a child.
The problem is finances. Green Bay is above the cap and would have to do some creative moves to make enough space for Watt.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
If the still young exceptional quarterback Lamar Jackson can consistently call up his performance in the playoffs, the ravens will also aim for the Super Bowl again and again in the coming years.
Baltimore’s frightening defense would welcome Watt with open arms, and recently well-known reinforcements kept coming and igniting. Watt already worked with D-Line coach Anthony Weaver in Houston.
A Ravens-D with him and Calais Campbell – came from the Jags via trade in March 2020 – already makes an impression on paper that Cap Space would also be there through Derek Wolfe’s Free Agency.
TENNESSEE TITANS
Head coach Mike Vrabel was Watts Defensive Coordinator at the Texans in 2017, so getting used to Tennessee would be easier.
The Titans have become almost traditionally looking for Pass Rush help. Watts’ old colleague Jadeveon Clowney only came last season, but performed disappointingly – no sack in eight games.
More could be expected from Watt. The Titans could probably afford it more easily than one or the other competing team.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
On paper, head coach Pete Carroll with quarterback Russell Wilson and receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf has enough weapons to set up a Super Bowl contender.
However, the Seahawks smoked quite a bit in the playoffs against the Rams (20:30) and Wilson puts pressure on the team to increase its personnel.
Watt could help here and not only appease the top star, but also strengthen the ailing defense. Because the days of the “Legion of Boom” are long gone. With 15th place, Seattle ranks only in the middle of the admissible points.
However, especially in the O-Line, the Seahawks have huge holes (playful and personal) that almost need to be filled.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
The former super team was miles away from the Super Bowl in year 1 after Tom Brady and behind the most important personnel, the quarterback, there is currently a huge question mark, like behind large parts of the skill positions in the offense.
The defense of coach guru Bill Belichick was still the seventh best in the NFL (according to permitted points) – and some stars were missing here who suspended the season due to Corona: D’onta Hightower, Patrick Chung and Co. are now expected back, with Watt, New England’s Defense Department would suddenly be in an excellent position again.
The Pats also have the fourth most cap space in the NFL, so they can strike even if, among other things, a capable quarterback has to be paid. Belichick has raved about Watt in the past. “Everything about him is at the highest level. He’s strong, very smart, fast for his size,” the coach told the Houston Cronicle once.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
With Justin Herber, the Chargers have one of the best young quarterbacks in the league (rookie record with 31 pass TD), the talent level is high across the board with stars like receiver Keenan Allen or tight end Hunter Henry.
The defense is waiting in Joey Bosa and Derwin James – comes back after injury – already with two potential game changers. Injuries and sometimes hair-raising coaching slowed down LA again and again.
With Brandon Staley came a new head coach who knows how to build a strong defense – in 2020 he was DC with the Rams (best defense in the league). Watt would help enormously here.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
With just 18.5 allowed points per game, the Rams were the best defense in the league last season.
Watt together with “Defensive Player of the Year” Aaron Donald (13.5 sacks) in one team? Almost unfair.
In order to upgrade the tough defense so prominently, LA would have to get creative in terms of cap space and add some moves. The duo Watt / Donald should therefore remain a dream.
DALLAS COWBOYS
Will Watt just stay in Texas and just move to Dallas? The devastating defense was a huge weak point of the Cowboys last season, only four teams allowed more points.
Dallas tried to address this problem last year with Everson Griffen from the Vikings, which worked moderately and he was shipped to Detroit.
Watt could form a nasty duo with Demarcus Lawrence (6.5 sacks) at the Cowboys, but after the horror injury of quarterback Dak Prescott there is a big question mark behind the Super Bowl ambitions in Dallas.
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