A year after making an NFL splash by trading for a Houston Texan, the Cardinals stunned the league again Monday by bringing in another former Texans All-Pro.
Defensive end J.J. Watt, who ever since his release from Houston last month was rumored to go to a handful of places but never Arizona, ended up agreeing to sign with the Cardinals.
Watt made the announcement on Twitter, with the team putting out a release a few minutes later saying it is a two-year contract.
After owner Michael Bidwill flew out to pick Watt up and bring him back to Arizona, Watt said he was "just excited to get started, to get to work and get to know the people of Arizona."
"The one thing I can promise (the fans) is that I'm going to work my ass off every day to make you proud," Watt added.
Multiple reports have the deal for the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year for potentially $31 million, with $23 million guaranteed.
It made the Instagram post by former and now current teammate DeAndre Hopkins recently – where Hopkins posted an edited photo of he and Watt hugging, both in Cardinals uniforms, with the caption "Let's finish what we started" – look prescient.
Watt, who will turn 32 later this month, fits into a defensive line that needed a veteran and in a locker room that could use his leadership. With fellow veteran Chandler Jones returning from injury, the Cardinals should be helped in their pass rush regardless of what happens with free agents-to-be Haason Reddick and Markus Golden.
The other defensive linemen under contract for 2021 are Zach Allen, Jordan Phillips, Leki Fotu, Rashard Lawrence and Shareef Miller.
Watt played in all 16 games for the Texans in 2020. He had five sacks – his lowest total in a season in which he played fully – and an interception, seven passes defensed, two forced fumbles and 14 tackles for loss. He has 101 sacks in his 10 NFL seasons.
In his most recent five seasons, Watt has only played 16 games twice, limited to eight, five and three games in the others because of injuries. He was still ranked as one of the best free agents available on the market, however.
In addition to Hopkins, Watt also has a relationship with defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who was on the Texans' defensive staff for three of Watt's seasons there.
Watt had been rumored to be choosing between the Browns, Packers, Bills, Titans and perhaps the Steelers. The Cardinals, other than Hopkins' IG plea, were not seen as a suitor – until Monday.
His uniform number choice will be interesting. Watt's 99 is one of the few retired by the Cardinals, in honor of Marshall Goldberg, a four-time All-Pro back in the 1940s and part of the 1947 championship team who also served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Tweeted Hopkins, "Life is good in Arizona!"
