Houston Texans: Top 4 moves that helped franchise in 2021

Houston Texans No. 1: Letting go of the past for future success

As tough as it was to see J.J. Watt granted the release he wanted, maybe it was time for Watt and the Houston Texans to go their different directions because they both have different versions of what the future holds.

Watt didn’t need to be a part of a rebuild, and the Texans didn’t need to have a veteran who is entering his 11th season be unhappy and on a roster that he didn’t want to be a part of. As great as Watt is, he wasn’t going to win a championship in Houston anytime soon, and he needed to go where he thought championship glory awaited him.

The Texans now have a chance to find out which player or players can step up and be the leaders on defense. Watt is one of the greatest defensive ends of all time, so there is no replacing him in that manner. The leadership role must be replaced because every defense needs a great leader to be successful or have a chance to have success.

Players like Lonnie Johnson Jr., Ross Blacklock and Charles Omenihu are just three players that come to mind whom the Texans could look to as possible long-term leaders, as they are young, talented and hopefully a member of the defense for a very long time.

It will be weird watching Watt in an Arizona Cardinals uniform this season, but it was the best possible move made by both parties to improve their overall respective futures in the NFL.