J.J. Watt could be heading to the NFC North for the 2021 season
By Adam Patrick
After getting released by the Houston Texans on Friday, where will J.J. Watt end up this year?
Improving the defensive line is easily one of the top priorities for the Minnesota Vikings this offseason. During the 2020 campaign, Minnesota’s four guys up front struggled to stop the run, and they were barely able to generate a pass rush.
The performance of the Vikings defensive line should significantly improve with the returns of Danielle Hunter and Michael Pierce this year. But Minnesota should still be looking for some more help on the edge and at the three-technique spot next to Pierce.
Someone capable of filling either of those roles is All-Pro defensive lineman J.J. Watt. On Friday, the Houston Texans released Watt at the player’s request, and now he needs a new home for next season.
Don’t expect J.J. Watt to end up signing with the Minnesota Vikings
As much as some Vikings fans would love to see Watt land in the Twin Cities this year, it’s pretty unlikely that the veteran defensive lineman will be suiting up in purple and gold next season.
Not only is Minnesota currently lacking in spending money to entice Watt to sign with them, but he’s also probably at a point in his career where he’s looking to join a team that is only one or two players away from competing for a spot in the Super Bowl.
Despite it being unlikely that Watt will sign with the Vikings, there seems to still be a good chance of him winding up in the NFC North.
According to the Action Network on Friday, the Green Bay Packers currently have the second-best odds to sign Watt at 4-to-1. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers also have 4-to-1 odds to land the veteran defender, while the Pittsburgh Steelers have the best odds to sign him at 3-to-2.
Watt being from the state of Wisconsin likely has a lot to do with the Packers being among the teams with the highest odds to sign him. And then the Steelers are at the top of the list because two of Watt’s brothers are currently under contract with Pittsburgh for next season.
If the former Texans defensive lineman wants to play with his brothers, then he’ll likely end up with the Steelers. But if Green Bay can give him a more lucrative deal, then Watt might choose to play for the team that plays its home games in the state where he grew up.
One thing that seems almost 100 percent certain, Watt won’t be signing with the Vikings to play for them next season.