Out of Nowhere! J.J. Watt Signs Deal with the Arizona Cardinals

All offseason, we have heard the noise surrounding star DE J.J. Watt and possible teams he would sign with. We have heard the Bills, the Browns, the Steelers, the Packers, and more. The one team we did not hear was the Arizona Cardinals, the team that Watt has decided to sign with, making his decision via Twitter. It is a signing that nobody saw coming but might be a better move than you would think. Let us look at the details of the deal, why it makes sense, but also why it does not.

Contract Details

Even though being a part of a winning team was a top priority for Watt, another priority was getting paid and that is exactly what he got. Watt has agreed to a two-year/$31M deal with $23M guaranteed, giving him an annual salary of over $15M per year. While he is still good, he is not what he once was, so to be able to draw that type of money is remarkable on Watt’s end, cashing in on his success for a second big contract. 

Why It Makes Sense

While nobody brought up the Cardinals being a viable option for Watt, the deal makes sense for both the player and the team. Arizona is coming off a disappointing season, finishing 8-8 and missing the playoffs. Despite this, the future is still bright in Arizona, led by QB Kyler Murray and head coach Kliff Kingsbury. Because of the bright future, the Cardinals can afford to take a risk and go for it this year, figuring they were that close to making the playoffs before eventually falling out. Watt will also not have all the pressure on him, as star pass rusher Chandler Jones will be lined up on the other side drawing a lot of the attention. The reason why this deal is not as risky is that it is only for two years, so you are not locked into his contract for an extended period of time. It is crazy how the Cardinals were not even mentioned in the talks by analysts and reporters, yet they are still a tremendous fit if the Cardinals play it right.

Too Big of a Risk?

Throughout this whole process, as said before, Arizona was not a team that many people regarded as a favorite for Watt, and that comes with some reasoning. Yes, the future does look bright, but Arizona is still a young team with a coach that has not proven he can win yet. Signing Watt puts a tremendous amount of pressure on Arizona to make the playoffs not only this year, but next year as well while dealing with the loaded NFC West. A failure to make the playoffs this year will likely cost Kingsbury his job, causing a massive change in the locker room, something Watt has seen time and time again with Houston and likely does not want to see again. Watt wanted to sign with a contender, but Arizona has not proved that yet. If Arizona does not make the playoffs or at least have a winning record, this was a waste of a deal and will likely cost numerous people their jobs and cause the Cardinals to start over yet again.

Info from profootballreference.com

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-By: Richie Dordas