Former Houston Texans teammates J.J. Watt and DeAndre Hopkins are teammates again, as it has been reported that Watt is signing with the Arizona Cardinals after gaining his release to free agency by the Texans last month.
How strange is it that J.J. Watt and DeAndre Hopkins are teammates in Arizona after both suffered through some tough losses and bad teams while members of the Texans? Last year it was Hopkins being traded in a lopsided deal to the Cardinals by then Texans general manager Bill O’Brien for David Johnson, and draft picks as the major parts of the deal.
Watt is coming off a season where he totaled 36 solo tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception. J.J. Watt also has 408 solo tackles for his career, along with 101 career sacks in 10 seasons with the Houston Texans.
As for Watt’s new teammate Hopkins, the wide receiver’s first year in Arizona saw him finish with 115 receptions for 1,407 yards, while adding six touchdown receptions.
Watt joins the Cardinals who were average in the NFC West standings a season ago at 8-8 overall, and the report of Watt joining the Cardinals comes from the source himself, as Watt tweeted the following photo on Monday:
source: me. pic.twitter.com/1Y6okQBUy5
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 1, 2021
J.J. Watt’s new contract is said to be for two years worth $31 million, including $23 million guaranteed, as reported by ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Houston Texans and J.J. Watt’s legacy from the past decade
It will be very strange seeing J.J. Watt in a uniform other than the Houston Texans as that has been the only team he’s been apart of until now. Watt earned a Hall of Fame resume while with the Texans, and his three Defensive Player of the Year awards, plus 100-plus sacks are more than enough to get him a home in Canton.
The Texans and Watt were not able to win a Super Bowl together which was a shame as the duo did win numerous AFC South championships together, but were never strong enough to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
That said, J.J. Watt is the greatest player to ever wear a Texans jersey, and nobody should ever wear the No. 99 again for the franchise. Watt one day will become a Texans Ring of Honor member as his legacy as the greatest is set in stone with the Texans.
There is new life for Watt in Arizona, and though they aren’t the favorites to win the Super Bowl for the 2021 season, Watt is going to be paid very well. He’s also going to a team with a better roster overall than the one he played with in 2020 with the Texans.
This is also a new life for the Texans as they can finally move forward from Watt’s free agency, and work on rebuilding a defense that needs a lot of work this offseason.