Veteran NFL reporter John Clayton believes the Green Bay Packers are one of the favorites to sign free agent JJ Watt.
Clayton ruled out the Pittsburgh Steelers as a realistic landing site and identified the Packers, Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills as favorites to get Watt, with the Las Vegas Raiders as another potential option.
“I think it will be Tennessee, Buffalo or Green Bay, probably more Tennessee or Green Bay. Out of the Raiders chance, ”Clayton said Wednesday at 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh.
Watt is expected to sign with a competitor, and all three teams listed as favorites were playoff teams in 2020. The Packers and Bills advanced to the conference title games, but soon reached the Super Bowl.
The Steelers were a potential popular landing point for Watt, who could join brothers TJ and Derek in Pittsburgh. Clayton said it doesn’t work financially.
Money could be an issue for Watt and the Packers, a team that still has about $ 12 million over the projected salary cap in 2021, but general manager Brian Gutekunst has plenty of ways to empty enough space to get an offer. Watt ‘s Defensive Player of the Year.
Clayton believes an older player, such as Watt, could struggle to get $ 10 million a year in his next deal.
“I’m so looking forward to seeing what he gets,” Clayton said.
Clayton’s opinion is consistent with what Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated heard about Watt’s market. According to Huber, Watt did not receive the offers he was waiting for.
According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Watt is starting to restrict his team choices, but nothing in terms of signing is imminent.
If signed, Watt would provide a talented and disruptive force for the front of the Packers defense. On the field, he would offer value both as a running defender and as an inside pass. A widely respected veteran with a long list of individual accomplishments, Watt would also provide a leader with similar influence to Aaron Rodgers for the Packers defense.