by PigskinMT
Posted 3 years ago
After a morning of Twitter-fueled speculation, free agent defensive end J.J. Watt revealed in a tweet Monday that he's signing with the Arizona Cardinals. The terms of the deal haven't been officially announced, but his two-year contract is reportedly worth $31 million with $23 million guaranteed. Watt, who will turn 32 in three weeks, spent the first decade of his career with the Houston Texans and established himself as a force. He's a five-time Pro Bowler, Defensive Player of the Year three times and has led the NFL in sacks twice. He's also known for his humanitarian work, having won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2017 for his incredible hurricane relief efforts in the Houston area.
The Texans' messy implosion during the 2020 season, which has spread into the offseason, likely damaged their relationship with Watt. As he walked off the field with quarterback Deshaun Watson after the final game of their 4-12 season, Watt apologized to him for wasting one of the QB's prime years. In February, Watt asked for and was granted his release and became a free agent.
In Arizona, Watt will be reunited with former Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who tweeted in celebration of the deal himself. The Texans surprisingly traded Hopkins to the Cardinals a year ago for a minimal return, a move that ended up signaling the forthcoming meltdown of Houston's front office and ownership.
The Cards will face the Texans during the 2021 season, so Watt and Hopkins will have a chance to get revenge on their former team.
Topic: Sports
Tags: JJ Watt NFL Free Agency Arizona Cardinals