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Buffalo Bills: 3 Reasons the Bills shouldn’t sign J.J. Watt

By Kendall Mirsky

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 03: J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans looks on against the Tennessee Titans during a game at NRG Stadium on January 03, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 03: J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans looks on against the Tennessee Titans during a game at NRG Stadium on January 03, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 12: Jadeveon Clowney #99 of the Tennessee Titans talks with teammates during a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Nissan Stadium on November 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Colts defeated the Titans 34-17. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 12: Jadeveon Clowney #99 of the Tennessee Titans talks with teammates during a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Nissan Stadium on November 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Colts defeated the Titans 34-17. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Reason 2: Jadeveon Clowney is a free agent

Reason number two is Watt’s former teammate Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney is also on the open market after back-to-back seasons on prove it deals with the Seahawks than the Titans last year. While Clowney has certainly taken a step back in his career since the expiration of his rookie contract, he still has plenty of gas in the tank at 28 years old.

If the Bills wait it out long enough, there is a chance that they can sign Clowney in free agency instead of Watt at a fraction of the cost and get a player that is four years younger.

Clowney may not be the elite pass-rusher that people thought he was going to be as the former 2014 first overall pick in the draft, but he has proven to be a consistent force in run defense. If the Bills can get Clowney at any price tag lower than $10 million annually and any duration less than three years, this may actually be the preferred way to improve the left defensive end position opposite of Jerry Hughes moving forward.

In my opinion, Watt and Clowney should be the top two guys the Bills should look at to bring in at the left defensive end position because of their acumen as run defenders on the edge with their pass rush abilities as an added bonus.

It’s understandable for fans to want an elite pass rusher, but it may be more prudent to find someone who can push the pocket more on the left side of the defensive line rather than getting someone who will strictly bend around that edge.

Additionally, it’s not like Clowney can’t pass rush anymore, in his first five years with the Texans he had 29 total sacks. That player is still in there somewhere and maybe all he needs to revive his career is to join Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott and trust the process.

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