PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – I’m really trying to express an opinion without offending the Watt family. They are currently the first family in football, seem like good people, but a family reunion in Pittsburgh makes no sense.
TJ Watt is the best defensive player, at least in the AFC, if not the NFL.
Maybe fullback Derek Watt will be better utilized. Or utilized at all, by new offensive coordinator Matt Canada.
But the idea of JJ Watt joining the Steelers is akin to the latest Wonder Woman movie. A lot of money thrown at it with little results and a lot of head shaking.
Here is why it’s dumb.
Contract
Watt is owed $17.5 million dollars in 2021. You may have heard the Steelers are already millions over the salary cap. It looks like they will pay Ben’s $19 million dollar salary or at least a part of it. Oh, and they have 19 free agents who’s positions they will need to fill. They also have a draft class to pay.
This ain’t the Lifetime Channel
It’s a great story isn’t it. JJ Watt comes to the Steelers and for the first time in NFL history three brothers play on the same team together. Weekly shots of the Watt family in the stands, COVID permitting.
It could air on the Lifetime Channel right after ‘Christmas Kisses in Vermont’.
This is the NFL Network, not Lifetime and feel-good stories don’t often make for positive results.
Position
JJ Watt can still play as judged by the 16 tackles for loss last year, still top 10 in the NFL. His leadership on and off the field is welcome on any team. The Steelers don’t need a defensive end, nor a new defensive leader.
There may be no position where the Steelers are more experienced or stronger than D-end.
Cam Heyward just signed a long-term contract. He is the team captain and owed 14.55 million in 2021. Stephon Tuitt is on the other side and owed 14.940 million next season after finishing eighth in the NFL with 11 sacks.
So even if salary wasn’t an issue, the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year would be willing to be a back up?
Now if Watt could get himself released by Houston and play for two million moving back to tight end…