CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Houston Texans were going nowhere and J.J. Watt wanted to win a Super Bowl.
That's what we were led to believe would be the driving force behind his free agency decision.
On Monday, Watt picked... the Arizona Cardinals, who are coming off an 8-8 season and finished third in the NFC West over the 11-5 Browns, who were bounced in the divisional round, or the AFC East champion and AFC finalist Bills.
Watt, a three-time defensive player of the year and five-time All-Pro, made the announcement on Twitter.
The hometown Packers, his brothers' team – the Steelers, and Mike Vrabel's Titans also were passed up by Watt in favor of the Cardinals.
In the end, it would appear that cash and weather won the day.
Watt, 32, gets a two-year deal worth a reported $31 million, with $23 million guaranteed.
With Watt headed to the desert, Browns EVP/GM Andrew Berry can turn his attention to other free agent options come March 17 including Yannick Ngakoue of the Ravens, Trey Hendrickson from the Saints and Melvin Ingram of the Chargers among others.
The Browns will pick 26th in the 2021 NFL Draft in April.
Watt will likely still visit Cleveland in 2021 with the Cardinals expected to be the 17th game added to the schedule.
