Texans star defensive end J.J. Watt was mentioned in trade rumors in advance of the November 3 deadline. Though he ended up staying put, he may be playing his last games with the only team he has ever known. According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, Watt is a virtual lock to be dealt this offseason.
Watt, 31, recently indicated that he does not want to be part of a rebuild, and the 1-6 Texans, who will be looking for a new GM and new head coach at season’s end, appear to be heading in that direction. Plus, Houston is without a first- or second-round selection in 2021, and while Watt is unlikely to fetch a draft pick that high, the club is desperate for whatever draft capital it can get.
The Texans had a number of players that other teams were interested in trading for, but acting GM Jack Easterby was in an awkward position due to his interim title, and he did not want to make a deal unless he was overwhelmed by an offer.
“[Watt will] be traded by March, bank on it,” said one GM. “That’s a hard trade to make in the middle of the season and there are going to be questions about the medicals. [Easterby] can’t make that trade in November. And the owner probably wasn’t quite ready to make it, but it’s coming.”
Indeed, owner Cal McNair was reportedly reluctant to eat salary to facilitate a trade, but given Watt’s age and medical history, McNair will likely need to change his tune this offseason. Watt is due to make $17.5MM in 2021, the last year of his current contract.
Watt, the 11th-overall pick of the 2011 draft, is a Houston legend for his on-field dominance and his off-field charitable work. But he missed significant time due to injury in 2016, 2017, and 2019, and his best days are probably behind him. Still, even an aging Watt can be a force, and there will be a number of contenders interested in his services.
La Canfora names the Steelers and Packers as two potential landing spots.
Draft picks plus an extension on a 31 year old guy that can’t stay healthy. Not worth the trade at this point.
JJ Watt’s value at 31 going on 32 is not good. Always injured. Declining production. On top of that, very few teams might not want to take the risk given the money owed.
But a team that needs an extra push for a season or two might. Watt is a rare player who makes his fellow defenders better, either by on-field attention or off-field influence. A team who is almost there-like the Steelers or Packers-could use him, especially for a day two pick.
Packers are the perfect landing spot but I don’t see them pulling the trigger unless Houston eats a big chunk of the money still owed to him
Gute won’t make that trade under any circumstances. The only trades he makes are within the draft, or send out current rostered players for draft picks.
Anyone reporting the Steelers as a landing spot is either doing so for clickbait purposes or had not done 2 seconds of research on their cap “situation” next year.
I love JJ and it would be cool to have all 3 Watts, but they don’t need him and can’t afford him at any more than $1-2M.
Do you realize how many players become FA at seasons end? Dupree, Juju, Conner, Villanueva, Williamson, Mcdonald, Feiler, Hilton, Alualu. Some of these guys will get very nice raises and the rest will still get more than the Steelers could afford. The money would be there, but I don’t see them wanting to take on that salary. They’d be better off franchising Dupree again.
Yes I do realize that, and no the money would not be there. DESPITE all those guys becoming FA’s they still will barely have any cap room. My point remains. They cannot afford Watt unless he is released and will sign for nearly the Vet Minimum.
They also don’t need him. Tuitt & Heyward are both studs in their own right, so unless Watt can play NT, the opportunity cost of bringing in him for any remotely sizable deal just is too high. They will need every dollar they have in Cap Space to try to retain even HALF of the guys they’d like to bring back next year, and to sign even replacements for the other half at even minimum contracts.
Since you are the first one to name the Steelers are you looking for click bait? Funny to make a statement like that before the statement is made.
I was hoping Seattle could get him at the deadline. The price would have to be right though. Mostly because we don’t have a ton of picks left. He would definitely help but not sure enough to take the chance he stays healthy.
It lists them in the article…jimminy cricket dude, READ.
“Say Watt again…say Watt again. I dare you…I double dare you…”
Ummmm, the metric system?
Coming back home to Wisconsin. I imagine he’d be open to negotiate for less money to get it done.
GB doesn’t have any money either, and plenty of their own to try and retain.
He’s not going anywhere for less than a 2nd. Not likely anyone will give that up, so he’s going to stay. No replacement on the roster and no money to bring in a FA better than JJ for less than the 27 million he’s due.