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DeAndre Hopkins and J.J. Watt helped deliver 4 AFC South division titles to Houston. Hopkins is hoping that Watt may help do extra of the identical in Arizona.
Hopkins, a perennial Professional Bowl receiver who was traded from Houston to Arizona final offseason, posted a picture of himself and Watt in Cardinals jerseys on his Instagram account on Tuesday. The submit additionally included Hopkins’ pitch to Watt to hitch forces with him in Arizona.
“Let’s end what we said,” Hopkins wrote.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, who’s slated to develop into a free agent subsequent month, responded to Hopkins’ submit. At the moment a member of the Steelers, Smith-Schuster inspired Watt to “come play with your brothers” in Pittsburgh.
Whereas the Cardinals are usually not reportedly within the combine to land Watt, they will surely make some sense. Whereas they didn’t make the playoffs final season for the fifth 12 months in a row, the Cardinals had been 6-3 earlier than accidents performed a job in an 8-8 end.
Hopkins is not alone on a gifted Cardinal’ roster that features quarterback Kyler Murray, security Budda Baker, cornerback Patrick Peterson, and outdoors linebackers Chandler Jones and Haason Reddick. The Cardinals have a number of pending free brokers that included Peterson, Reddick, receiver Larry Fitzgerald, and working again Kenyan Drake. The workforce’s present projected salary-cap house is $13.5 million, according to Over the Cap.
In Arizona, Watt would be a part of a Cardinals’ protection that completed fourth within the NFL with 48 sacks final season. Arizona’s protection additionally completed twelfth in scoring and red-zone effectivity, tenth in passing and third in red-zone effectivity. The Cardinals may get considerably higher in run protection, nevertheless, as they had been simply twenty second within the league in that division in 2020.
Being pretty compensated, enjoying for a Super Bowl-caliber workforce, and being a part of a robust tradition are among the many requisites Watt is reportedly in search of in his subsequent workforce. Whereas the Cardinals’ 2021 Super Bowl prospects are first rate, reuniting with Hopkins and being a part of a gifted protection are among the many Cardinals’ high promoting factors. The Cardinals even have stability. Proprietor Michael Bidwell has loved a profitable partnership with Steve Keim, who’s coming into his ninth season because the workforce’s normal supervisor. Throughout Keim’s time within the desert, the Cardinals have had appreciable success with veteran gamers who spent nearly all of their careers on different groups. In 2015, veterans Carson Palmer, working again Chris Johnson and Dwight Freeney helped Arizona attain the NFC Championship Sport. Every participant spoke extremely of their expertise with the Cardinals’ group.
“5 years [with the Cardinals] was not sufficient for me,” Palmer said upon being advised that he was being added to the workforce’s Ring of Honor in 2019. “I want we might’ve gotten there earlier as you already know, however I’m past honored and I am unable to wait. That is wonderful.”
The Cardinals will face stiff competitors in the event that they hope to accumulate the three-time NFL Defensive Participant of the 12 months. A dozen groups have already already expressed curiosity in Watt, who is reportedly strongly considering the Cleveland Browns as a potential touchdown spot. Titans normal supervisor Jon Robinson confirmed on Tuesday that Tennessee has made contact with Watt’s representatives. Watt spent 4 seasons working alongside Titans coach Mike Vrabel, who served as Houston’s defensive coordinator previous to his arrival in Tennessee.
The Steelers may additionally be a presumably touchdown spot for Watt, as Pittsburgh already employs Watt’s youthful brothers in outdoors linebacker T.J. Watt and fullback Derek Watt. The Packers are additionally thought of as one of many favorites to land Watt, a Wisconsin native.
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