Shortly after the news broke that the Houston Texans would be releasing J.J. Watt, the Buffalo Bills seemed to be one of the teams that first came to mind. It certainly makes sense when considering the team’s need and the fact that they are legitimate contenders in the coming years.
However, if the Bills were to sign the former three-time Defensive Player of the Year, it would require some work on their part to create the necessary cap space. It also remained to be seen that if the front office was even interested although there seemed to be a natural connection.
On Friday evening, ESPN’s Ed Werder reported that about a dozen teams had already reached out or expressed interest with one of those teams being the Buffalo Bills.
From NFL sources
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) February 13, 2021
NFL sources: Approximately a dozen teams have shown interest in JJ Watt since he became an immediate unrestricted free agent. Included among those teams are the #Steelers, #Browns, #Bills and #Titans.
It certainly isn’t surprising to see the amount of interest around J.J. Watt now that he is a free agent. He has been a cornerstone of the Texans’ defense since they selected him with the 11th overall pick in 2011 and has 101 career sacks, including two years where he finished with 20.5 sacks in a single season.
It is interesting that the four teams Werder lists, are all in the AFC and all were playoff teams this past year. However, a strong case could be made that of the four teams listed by Werder the Buffalo Bills are the closest to a Super Bowl title after reaching the AFC Championship Game.
The team to watch though would likely be the Pittsburgh Steelers as they currently have J.J. Watt’s brother, T.J. Watt, and the chance for the two brothers to play with each other is likely something that would come along often.
The move for the Buffalo Bills certainly makes sense as improving their pass rush, specifically their front four, should be a top priority for this front office. Even though J.J. Watt is 31 years of age and may not be at the same level he was a few years ago, he would be a significant upgrade at the position.