J.J. Watt will join the Arizona Cardinals, the star defensive end announced Monday on Twitter.
Watt, who requested to be released from the Houston Texans last month, tweeted the news of his new team by posing in Cardinals gear while working out. The team announced the team later Monday. Watt had been rumored to be interested in the Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers.
But Watt, a five-time All-Pro selection, is teaming up with former Texans star wideout DeAndre Hopkins in Arizona. Hopkins had been traded from Houston last year. According to Ian Rapoport, Watt’s deal is worth up to $31 million over two years.
source: me. pic.twitter.com/1Y6okQBUy5
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 1, 2021
Watt was one of the most dominant pass rushers in the league, and he still can reach that level when healthy. However, Watt isn’t always healthy. He played three games in 2016, five in 2017 and eight in 2019. In 2020, when he played all 16, he posted five sacks.
Watt has produced more than 15 sacks in four seasons — 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2018. His most productive campaigns came in 2012 and 2014, when he managed 20.5 sacks each of those seasons. The 31-year-old earned AP Defensive Player of the Year honors both of those years.
Arizona now has two imposing defensive presences, with Watt and defensive end Chandler Jones, to go along with an offense led by dynamic quarterback Kyler Murray.
• Andy Kostka can be reached at akostka@washingtontimes.com.
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