J.J. Watt, one of the NFL's best defensive players of the past decade, is available to sign right now. And his market is about to heat up.
With the Houston Texans releasing Watt on Friday at Watt's request, he gets a jump start on free agency as a premier pass-rusher open for business for 31 teams.
Watt's impact on the game is massive. He's one of three players to win Defensive Player of the Year three times, joining Lawrence Taylor and Aaron Donald. His 101 sacks since entering the league in 2011 is second to Von Miller's 106 during that span. And despite having only five sacks in 2020, a career low over 16 games, Watt ranked seventh among defensive linemen with 13 disrupted dropbacks (sacks, interceptions and tipped passes).
The flip side is that Watt turns 32 next month and has missed 32 games over the last five seasons. That shouldn't dampen what will likely be a strong market as a situational pass-rusher and run-stopper on a contender.
After a quick ask around the league, here are five team fits for Watt, plus two sleepers to watch:
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Watt brothers have discussed playing together, and with T.J. and Derek already under contract in Pittsburgh, the draw is obvious. Pittsburgh could pair J.J. with Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt on a vicious three-man defensive line, with T.J. rushing off the edge.
The problem is money. Watt would assuredly have to take something close to a veteran minimum, which players of his caliber are rarely asked to do. The Steelers have a $27 million cap deficit and several big-money veterans. Pittsburgh, however, can move money around to make this work if it really wants him -- and if he wants to play with his brothers.
Green Bay Packers
The Watts are from nearby Pewaukee, Wisconsin, and spend significant time there in the offseason. Getting out of the cold is not really a thing for them. They embrace it.
But Green Bay is a fit beyond the weather. Watt could play opposite interior lineman Kenny Clark in the Packers' 3-4 scheme and cause problems for pass-blockers. Green Bay is still middle of the pack (sorry) in rushing defense and could use another capable player there.
Like Pittsburgh, Green Bay is swimming in cap problems (minus-$22.6 million in space right now), but that shouldn't stop the Packers from adding a quality player.
Tennessee Titans
Tennessee can't rush the passer and needs reinforcements in the worst way, ranking 30th in the NFL last season with 19 sacks.
Familiarity helps. Titans coach Mike Vrabel was on Houston's staff from 2014 to '17 and knows Watt's game well. And playing Houston twice a year in the AFC South gives general manager Jon Robinson a good view of Watt's late-career arc. A good game plan would be to sign an outside linebacker in free agency and let Watt rush the passer alongside him.
New England Patriots
I know they are in a rebuild, but this is the perfect Bill Belichick signing, adding a piece he can use as a Swiss Army knife up front. The Patriots have $50 million in cap space, some of which they will use on a quarterback. But New England's formula starts and stops with the defense right now, and here's to betting on a playoff run sooner rather than later.
Los Angeles Rams
Is there a team more all-in than this? The defense needs replenishing with edge rusher Leonard Floyd and safety John Johnson hitting free agency, and Watt would be an ideal complement to Aaron Donald up front. This would be a creative way to offset the loss of draft capital and free-agency money after their recent flurry of trades and moves.
SLEEPER TEAMS
Buffalo Bills
Buffalo doesn't have a big-money alpha on its defensive line, but the two-deep is filled with disruptive players. Watt would fit right in as an upgrade to Trent Murphy, who will likely leave in free agency.
Baltimore Ravens
They are all about maximizing the defensive line with veterans, a plan that worked smoothly with the acquisition of Calais Campbell, who made the Pro Bowl at age 34 in his first year in Baltimore. Campbell's agent is Tom Condon, one of Watt's agents.