Although he’s about to turn 32 years old and has just posted the lowest total for one season of any season in which he was able to play a full line of games, JJ Watt notices that it is in high demand. The former face of the Texans, released by Houston last week, seems like a good bet to make a multi-year pact any time soon.
Over the weekend, Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News suggested that it is unlikely that the Bills, who were one of the teams linked to Watt right after his release, would likely not be doing this off-season by a major free agent. Instead, Carucci said he expects Buffalo to use most of his money toward an extension for QB Josh Allen, which would keep the club from hunting down prominent free agents like Watt.
However, ESPN’s Kimberley A. Martin reported that the bills did indeed ask for Watt and that the interest is mutual (Twitter linkCarucci’s sources confirmed this, saying Bills and Watt’s agent, Tom Condon, was communicating. Interestingly, Condon also represents Allen, so maybe he and Buffalo GM Brandon Beane can do a lot of work in the coming days.
Watt is looking for a top-tier quarterback contender, and the Bills, fresh off an AFC Championship Game appearance, certainly qualify. But there are about six more teams remaining in the race, including the Browns, Titans, Steelers and Packers, and they all made it through the post-season in 2020. So while Carucci hears that Watt could narrow his list in the next few days, it’s tough right now. to find a real frontrunner.
It’s easy to see why the Bills are seriously considering Watt. Besides being seen as a good match with the team-first culture that is Beane and head coach Sean McDermott having helped create west New York, the Bills were just 20th in the league last season under pressure from the quarterback, and their two best defensive ends, Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison, are 32 and 33, respectively. Of course Watt isn’t that far behind in age, but while Watt came out as the seventh best edge defender in the league last year according to Pro Football Focus advanced statistics, Addison was No. 78 ED.
The Bills are right at the limit, so theoretically they could release Addison to create just over $ 6 million in space and then put that money into a contract for Watt. Spotrac is projecting a two-year $ 24 million deal for the five-time First Team All-Pro.
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