Veteran NFL reporter John Clayton believes the Green Bay Packers are a favorite to sign free agent defensive line player JJ Watt.
Clayton dismissed 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. Random for the Raiders, “Clayton told 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
Watt is expected to sign with a contender and the three teams ranked as favorites were playoff teams in 2020. The Packers and Bills advanced to their conference title games, but failed to make it to the Super Bowl.
The Steelers have been a popular potential landing point for Watt, who could join brothers TJ and Derek in Pittsburgh. Clayton said it doesn’t work out financially.
Money could be a problem for Watt and the Packers, a team that still exceeds $ 12 million above the 2021 salary cap, but CEO Brian Gutekunst has many ways to leave enough room to get a competitive bid to Watt, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Clayton believes a bigger player like Watt could struggle to get $ 10 million a year in his next deal.
“I’m anxious to see what he ends up achieving,” Clayton said.
Clayton’s opinion matches what Sports Illustrated’s Bill Huber has heard about Watt’s market. According to Huber, Watt did not receive the offers he expected.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Watt is starting to limit his team selections, but nothing in terms of signing is imminent.
If signed, Watt would provide a disturbing and talented force for the front of the Packers defense. On the field, he would provide value both as a defender of the top race and as an inside runner. Watt, a respected veteran with a long list of individual accomplishments, would also provide a leader with a weight similar to Aaron Rodgers for the Packers defense.