Count the Green Bay package among teams interested in purchasing defensive lineman JJ Watt, who was released Friday by the Houston Texans.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Bill Huber, the Packers are part of about a dozen teams already interested in Watt.
The fit looks almost perfect for both sides. The Packers could certainly use a versatile, disruptive defensive line, such as Watt, to strengthen the defensive front and create a championship-level pass. Watt, originally from Wisconsin, will have the chance to watch a Super Bowl with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, who have won 26 games in the 2019 regular season and advanced to the NFC game in the past two seasons.
Watt may be the last piece of the Super Bowl puzzle for the Packers. And it’s almost certain that Watt has a certain level of interest in joining the Packers, the team he cheered up to grow.
The financial part is where the association becomes difficult. Watt seems to be a very coveted player in the open market, as expected, and the Packers have to sell over $ 20 million to get below the expected salary cap in 2021, even after the restructuring of David Bakhtiari’s agreement to empty space.
GM Brian Gutekunst has a lot of ways to lose more lid space and enough free space for Watt, but more movement would be needed.
The benefits of adding Watt seem to outweigh the risks, although it must be borne in mind that the former Badgers star will be 32 years old next month and has missed big three-season pieces since 2016, with major injuries.