Clint Lamb
JJ Watt is experiencing true free agency for the first time. It hasn’t been long, but the five-time All-Pro defender has already discovered how crazy things can be.
At this point, it’s not about which teams want Watt. It’s about which teams Watt wants. During an appearance on 93.7 The Fan Pittsburgh, NFL insider John Clayton revealed that three teams were in the lead to secure Watt’s services.
Surprisingly, the Pittsburgh Steelers weren’t one of the four. The Cleveland Browns and the Miami Dolphins weren’t either. Instead, it’s Green Bay, Tennessee and Buffalo with Las Vegas as a dark horse, according to Clayton.
.@JohnClaytonNFL says JJ Watt won't be coming to Pittsburgh. Tennessee, Green Bay, and Buffalo are the 3 teams. Raiders as a dark horse.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) February 24, 2021
Clayton did take to Twitter soon after the news began circulating to clarify that those four weren’t finalists. They’re leading, but several teams are still in it.
People are misinterpreting what I said on radio today. I said Tennessee, Green Bay and Buffalo were the leading teams for J.J. Watt but not the final three. Watt hasn't narrowed his list. The Cleveland Browns are still in. So are the Raiders. He has a dozen teams after him.
— John Clayton (@JohnClaytonNFL) February 24, 2021
The connections to the leading teams — or at least two of them — make sense. Watt grew up a Packers fan, and they’re considered one of the top contenders in the NFL. The Titans are coached by Mike Vrabel, who was Watt’s defensive coordinator in Houston at one time.
The Bills and the Raiders are also heavily in the mix. Buffalo was close to a Super Bowl appearance this season, and the Raiders have been a competitive team. If they can get some more help defensively — someone like Watt, perhaps — then perhaps they can turn the corner.
Yes, Watt will be 32 in March. And yes, he’s struggled to stay healthy in recent years. He’s still an impact player when healthy though. Whatever team lands the three-time Defensive Player of the Year instantly becomes better — both on the field and off of it.
My two favorite fits are the Titans and Packers. Why? Imagine Watt added to this:
- TEN: Harold Landry, Jeffery Simmons
- GB: Za’Darius Smith, Kenny Clark, Rashan Gary
The Bills have been solid defensively, but Watt wouldn’t be given the same one-on-one opportunities there as he could in Tennessee or Green Bay. The same could be said for Las Vegas too.
We’ll see what happens.
Follow Clint Lamb on Twitter @ClintRLamb.
Hey Clint,
Just my 2 cents…
***GB shot their load last year…Aaron is moving on to holographic cosmic sojourns with his “new” love…the Lady of the Oceans…and LA movie distractions. He was all in last season telling the management of the “NFL’s stepchild” (his words) that he was going scorched earth, which he did until he had to play the TB defense…and TB12, The GOAT, wasn’t losing at The Shrine To Lombardi…he’s too mentally tough to bow to The Great Lombardi if he wasn’t gonna bow to The Hoodie Goat…and especially not gonna bow to Rodgers…never happening.
***Buffalo will lose players and can’t overcome an away game in the AFC Ship.
***Tennessee CAN survive and WIN an away game in the Ship.
JJ should head for Old Tennessee if he wants a ring (as a player).
JJ Watt would be a great replacement for Sean Lee in Dallas. Not sure how Dallas would replace a critical part of the IR list without him.
Tennessee has to make this happen, and please kick Clowney to the curb. Contrary to perception, Watt plays through more injuries than most(unlike Clowney for example, who gets injured putting on his pads). He hasn’t missed a game in 7 of 10 seasons, including starting all 16 last year. The only way he comes off the field is on a gurney. I wouldn’t worry about this guy’s health any more than anyone else on your roster. And a 32 year old Watt is still better than 90% of defensive linemen in the NFL. Sign him.