For a second straight year, Armon Watts will be heading east. The former Vikings and Bears starter agreed to terms with the Steelers on Monday night, according to his agent (on Twitter). It is a one-year deal, the Steelers announced.
A fifth-year defensive tackle, Watts spent the past two seasons as a primary starter in the NFC North. The Vikings made the surprising decision to waive him on roster-cutdown day last summer, doing so after acquiring Ross Blacklock from the Texans via trade. Watts played out his contract year in Chicago, starting 12 games for the rebuilding Bears.
The former Vikings sixth-round pick profiles as a depth addition for the Steelers, who have added both Watts and D-lineman Breiden Fehoko recently. Fehoko spent the past three seasons as a Chargers rotational cog; Watts received a bit more playing time, having started 21 games between the 2021 and ’22 seasons.
A Michael Pierce injury prompted the Vikings to use Watts as a starter two years ago, and he contributed five sacks to Minnesota’s cause that year. As the Vikings shifted to a primary 3-4 alignment for the first time in decades, they cut Watts, who did not make it too far down the waiver priority list last August. The Bears, who pivoted to a 4-3 scheme under Matt Eberflus, used the 307-pound defender on 532 defensive snaps last season. Watts finished with just one sack but added four tackles for loss. Pro Football Focus graded the 6-foot-5 defender as a top-50 interior D-lineman in 2021 but slotted him outside the top 100 players at the position — just behind Fehoko — last season.
The Steelers have used a 3-4 scheme for many years; they obviously feel comfortable enough with Watts here to take a flier weeks into free agency. Watts and Fehoko join a Steelers team that has not brought back veteran Tyson Alualu or Chris Wormley. The latter suffered a torn ACL in December. Alongside Cameron Heyward and the recently re-signed Larry Ogunjobi, the Steelers have 2022 third-round pick DeMarvin Leal, Isaiahh Loudermilk and Montravius Adams on their defensive line. Loudermilk and Adams combined for 12 starts last season.
If you need someone to stand around and tear up the grass and take up oxygen this is your man. You must have a lot of both in Pittsburgh. What is it with you guys that you love failed Bears? Trubisky, Daniels, Watts Sure I’m forgetting more.
Yeah, on one hand I am very happy they were a big participant in free agency but on the other, its disappointing that they opted for depth on the D-line rather than the proven types they signed in the secondary and O-line.
I’m guessing they’re going to go for a stud in the draft and that’s why they’re signing guys like this
Guess I have to give Khan and Weidl the benefit of the doubt at this point. They’ve addressed needs and stocked areas that were thin. And given the Bud Dupree drama, it looks like they’re shrewd enough to not overpay
Guess we’ll see
Daniels was pretty solid for the Steelers last year. The Bears as a whole were terrible, but it doesn’t mean they don’t have individual talent.
I wouldn’t talk smack when the Bears signed Artie Burns and gave up essentially a first round pick for Chase Claypool.
Sometimes folks just need a change of scenery
Yeah the Claypool trade was a head scratcher. I doubt when Poles made that deal he thought it would be the 1st pick in the 2nd round. I thought the pick they got from the Ravens would of been good enough. Anyway the Bears were trending up when he made the deal and then Claypool got hurt so there’s that. But now with Moore as #1 and Mooney back and the line set for an improvement we’ll see, But I’m sure Poles would like a do over on that one. Advantage Pitt.
It’s probably a low risk signing, basically he comes in and competes for a spot and if he doesn’t stick he’s gone. I doubt they signed him for any value that’s going to cost them money if he doesn’t make the team. Likely a training camp body. He’s still young enough tat maybe being around Heyward and Ogunjobi brings out something in him. Low risk type move.
If you have a spare 14 million laying around you can have Whitehair too. I’m sure if you took him Poles would be doing cartwheels around his office, Assuming he can still do a cartwheel. All we need back is a package of hot dog buns and a 6 pack of skunk beer. Jenkins and Davis are set at Guard and they’re even talking about Whitehair playing C again which already failed once miserably. Burns tore his ACL in Camp and was never a factor after that.
Footnote: It wouldn’t even really cost 14 million as the Bears would be stuck paying his bonus money which is bout 6 million so 8 million it is. Old Lady McCaskey might join Poles in a cartwheel or two. Can 100 year olds do cartwheels? It’d be awesome.