Colts need to swoop in and sign JJ Watt after Texans stupidly released him
By Jerry Trotta
The Indianapolis Colts are currently entrenched in negotiations for Carson Wentz, but a massive piece of news just dropped regarding another current position of need. You know how Indy was planning to make a big splash at defensive end with the likes of Justin Houston and Denico Autry both set to hit free agency this offseason?
Well, one of the best edge rushers in the league just became available. And no, we aren’t talking about having to give up assets to acquire him. Texans star JJ Watt met with team ownership this week and formally requested to be released.
They bizarrely obliged, so now Watt will hit the open market and be free to sign with any team this offseason. While the defensive end market was already shaping up to feature a slew of elite talent, the Colts need to be all over this development and make signing the five-time All-Pro one of their top priorities this offseason.
The Colts should look to keep JJ Watt in the AFC South following his shocking release.
The #Texans are releasing star JJ Watt, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 12, 2021
We get the Texans organization owed Watt a favor (or several) given the Hall of Fame career he put together with them over the last decade — not to mention what he meant to the community in terms of being a consistent source of charity — but why on earth would they not at least consider trading him for draft picks? That’s what we like to call organizational malpractice.
Nonetheless, Watt’s experience and leadership would be exactly what the doctor ordered for the Colts defense, which proved this past season that they are on the precipice of being a championship-caliber unit. Given that the three-time Defensive Player of the Year would fill a position of need and be among final pieces that gets them over the hump, signing him is a no-brainer now that he won’t cost any draft picks.
Houston, I wanted you to hear this directly from me... pic.twitter.com/YqT3P6Lb6l
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) February 12, 2021
In regards to how much it would cost to sign him, who cares? Indianapolis is flush with cap space and odds are Watt would take a discount in the name of being able to compete for a championship.
For any fans on the fence about signing Watt, just picture the sort of havoc him, DeForest Buckner, and Grover Stewart could wreak on the defensive line. Throw Darius Leonard into the mix and we’d probably be looking at one of the most dominant front sevens in the league.
