Buffalo Bills: Making the case for and against signing J.J. Watt

Making the case against signing J.J. Watt

The biggest question for the Buffalo Bills is if they can create enough cap space to sign a defensive end like J.J. Watt. The former Texans’ defensive end was entering the final year of a six-year, $100 million contract, and this past season had a cap hit of $15.5 million.

While this depends on what the salary cap is, with the number likely between $180 and $185 million, the Bills are going to need to make additional moves to create the necessary cap space to sign Watt.

They could cut players like Mario Addison, Quinton Jefferson, and Vernon Butler which would total nearly $20 million in savings but also generate $6.5 million in dead cap. This also likely means the front office would not have any additional space to sign some of their own free agents like Matt Milano, Daryl Williams, or Jon Feliciano.

There is also an injury concern with J.J. Watt as he has missed plenty of time over the years. In fact, over the past five seasons, he has played a full 16-game schedule only twice. He also has had two seasons during that stretch where he played five or fewer games.