Steelers tried to sign J.J. Watt, reunite new Cardinals star with his brothers, per report

After a decade with the Houston Texans, J.J. Watt is heading to the Arizona Cardinals. And never solely that, however he is getting particular therapy for his relocation, receiving $31 million on a reported two-year contract in addition to a No. 99 jersey previously retired by the franchise. Earlier than he introduced his transfer to Arizona, nevertheless, Watt apparently obtained a particular provide from one other group: The prospect to play together with his siblings. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Steelers have been “within the combine” for the longtime Texans star and tried to reunite Watt together with his brothers T.J. and Derek, each of whom play in Pittsburgh.

Watt “would have welcomed enjoying with (his) brothers,” Fowler reported Tuesday. “However (the) Cardinals took (a) clear benefit in (the) ultimate days, and Pittsburgh has a lot to determine with (its) cap deficit, Massive Ben’s contract and extra.”

Pittsburgh could very effectively have been concentrating on Watt as a possible substitute for beginning move rusher Bud Dupree, who’s set to hit free company later this month. As Fowler alluded to, nevertheless, a part of the rationale the Steelers could not retain Dupree within the first place is as a result of they’re in considerably of a precarious cap state of affairs. Even with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger anticipated to restructure a profitable 2021 wage to return for at the least yet another season, the Steelers may very well be compelled to let key free brokers like operating again James Conner, vast receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and left deal with Alejandro Villanueva depart on the open market.

Watt might have rushed reverse his brother T.J. in Pittsburgh to kind one of many NFL‘s most formidable move dashing duos; the youthful Watt is a three-time All-Professional honoree and has now logged at the least 13 sacks in three straight seasons, drawing Defensive Participant of the 12 months buzz in 2020. However the Cardinals will reportedly pay Watt handsomely to line up reverse Chandler Jones in Arizona, giving him a mean of greater than $15 million per 12 months after the veteran obtained his requested launch from Houston.