In a surprising twist to the NFL offseason, the Houston Texans and all-world defensive lineman JJ Watt mutually agreed to part ways on Friday morning. Watt’s reign as one of the league’s most dominant forces isn’t over, but for the time being, his career in Houston is over.
With the Texans opting for a new approach in the front office, the trail of consequences keeps growing longer. One of the league’s best young quarterbacks in Deshaun Watson requested a trade upon the season’s conclusion, the team’s president stepped down earlier in the week unhappy with the direction of the organization, and now the franchise’s greatest player is a free agent.
While Houston reels from their obvious culture issue that begins at the top *pointing at you, Jack Easterby*, the time for other teams to pounce is now. An organization that traded themselves into irrelevancy over the past decade is sliding to the bottom of the barrel of the NFL’s caste system.
Many Mistakes of Bill O’Brien
Before his departure from the NFL after an 0-4 start to the 2020 season, Bill O’Brien ran the show in Houston. BOB played the role of general manager, head coach and play caller, none of which he did particularly well.
Traded WR DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals
- Did not receive a 1st round pick in return for one of the league’s best receivers.
- Acquired the contract of aging running back David Johnson, 2nd round pick.
- Then signed Randall Cobb and acquired Brandin Cooks (for a 2nd round pick), offsetting the salary cap space gained in trading Hopkins.
Traded TWO 1st round picks for LT Laremy Tunsil
- Attached to Tunsil’s services was a $50M+ price tag.
- Also acquired WR Kenny Stills. meh
- Lost TWO 1st round picks! That’s huge!
Traded Jadeveon Clowney for a 3rd.
- While Clowney maybe wasn’t living up to the hype of a first overall draft selection, BOB traded the studly OLB for a Day 2 pick, Barkevious Mingo and Jacob Martin.
- BOB waited until the market withered away to strike a deal, losing most of the leverage he had as the situation deteriorated away.
Houston fired O’Brien during the season allowing the Texans to change their direction for the better, right? Not right. Some might even say “wrong.”
How about now?
Howard Jones famously said “things can only get better.” That applies for everybody aside from the Texans fanbase.
Deshaun Watson wants out.
- Your elite 25-year-old QB demanded a trade. Maybe new leadership doesn’t grant that wish, but if Watson gives the ultimatum that he would consider sitting out in 2021, the situation changes.
- Miami, San Francisco or potentially a mystery team is about to find themselves immediately placed into the playoff picture, even if it means losing significant draft capital for the near future.
- Management allowed it to come to this. Consider the situation unavoidable, yet Houston seemingly went out of their way to wreck the best thing the organization had going in its favor.
JJ Watt…
- Just like that, the Texans dropped their greatest player ever into a pool of free agents. Watt’s relationship with the franchise that brought him into the NFL seemed unbreakable. The Texans found a way.
- Houston’s greatest treasure, one of the most charitable athletes of this generation is looking for a new home.
Seriously, how do you let this slip away?
Watt’s next for #99?
See *watt* I did there?
In reality, every team should kick the tires on Watt. There’s not one single team in the NFL that wouldn’t benefit from a dominating pass rusher. Even if the big fella’s best days sit in the past, Watt’s prestige still ranks in the upper echelon of the league.
Let’s split destinations into three categories: contenders, storylines & long shots. Unfortunately, the phrase “ring chaser” holds a negative connotation. But it’s long overdue that we stop blaming players for organizational failures and wanting to compete for one of the best trophies in sports: the George Halas Trophy awarded to the champion of the NFC.
Contenders
If Watt demands the best opportunity to win a Super Bowl before his playing career expires, look for a contender. But when taking everything into account, the salary cap likely dips this offseason and cash-strapped teams cannot afford bidding wars. That said, the NFL salary cap is a figment of our imagination, and some GMs are really good at restructuring contracts to make things work.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Fresh off of their surprising Super Bowl LV victory and even more impressive boat parade, the Bucs fall perfectly in the category of cash-strapped, have other needs, but certainly wouldn’t deny Watt the opportunity to join the pirate ship.
Indianapolis Colts
Dependent on how Indy handles the vacancy at QB, imagine the addition of Watt bolstering their defensive powerhouse. Indianapolis has the money, but they don’t have a QB for 2021 yet, so Watt likely isn’t #1 on their priority list right now.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams play by their own rules. They don’t adhere to cap rules, they’ve probably traded draft picks that don’t exist, but nobody’s caught on to this point. I cannot imagine the money works for LA, but the Texans literally released the greatest player in franchise history today, so I suppose crazier things happen.
Kansas City Chiefs
It’s unfair to contemplate landing spots among contenders and not mention the reigning AFC Champion. But I wouldn’t expect this going beyond mere speculation.
Storylines
Everybody loves a wholesome story that just makes sense. Consider these the Hallmark Christmas movie options for Watt. If you’ve followed Watt’s career on and off the field, he’s not one to necessarily shy away from the theatrics. But it works.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers present the obvious #1 storyline opportunity for Watt: who wouldn’t want to play for Dwayne Haskins? Or his brothers LB TJ Watt and FB Derek Watt? Although Derek isn’t on the defensive side of the ball, I can already see the pictures of the three brothers sitting next to one another on the bench.
Pittsburgh, like the other two teams in this category, finds itself in cap trouble (shocker), but nobody’s quite certain where Watt wants to go, or what his next contract commands. Without that knowledge, this guessing game is somewhat of a crapshoot. Keep reading though.
Green Bay Packers
The Watt bloodline runs deep in Wisconsin. The former Badger grew up in Waukesha, Wisconsin, so the Green Bay connection is right there. However, the Packers require the acquisition of some weapons for their quarterback. If Aaron Rodgers doesn’t have a stable full of wide receivers champing at the bit to catch a football in 2021, things could get gnarly northa da (Illinois) border. Watt isn’t priority #1 for Green Bay and a very Wiscy reunion shouldn’t be that high for #99 either.
Chicago Bears
Yep, you heard me. The team so desperate for a QB, they’d consider Marcus Mariota an upgrade at this point, finds itself as a potential landing spot for the pass rusher. Does it make a whole lot of sense? Maybe not completely, but I really want to happen. I could use a win. Please. And I dare you to find hole in my logic.
Signing Watt alleviates the pressure on GM Ryan Pace to trade an arm and leg for Deshaun Watson. Maybe the money doesn’t make sense right now especially with WR Allen Robinson entering free agency. But Watt loves Chicago. His wife, Kealia Ohai Watt, is a soccer sensation in the city with the Red Stars. They love Chicago pizza. They LIVE IN CHICAGO. How much more evidence could you ask for?
Where does Watt even fit on the defensive line? I don’t know. It’s probably too many cooks in the kitchen, but adding Watt to a line with Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn, Eddie Goldman and Akiem Hicks sure makes the job a little easier for first-time Defensive Coordinator Sean Desai. And after a season in which Chicago struggled to reach the quarterback, that group of rushers collapses the pocket every single play.
Long Shots
Every other team falls in this category. Either the Watt connection isn’t there, the money doesn’t add up whatsoever, or the organization isn’t in a position to contend. That doesn’t mean the team shouldn’t pursue, but it means it would require quite the enticing offer to see it through to fruition.
This is Houston’s mess; a broken franchise, a fanbase in disarray… and it’s not exactly over. JJ Watt is suddenly available to 31 teams in the NFL and everybody’s laughing at the only organization not in the running.