TEMPE, Arizona. – Free agent JJ Watt has agreed a two-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals, the team announced Monday.
The terms were not disclosed, but a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the deal is worth $ 31 million and includes $ 23 million guaranteed.
Before the cardinals announced the deal, Watt broke the news by sharing a photo on Twitter:
source: me. pic.twitter.com/1Y6okQBUy5
– JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 1, 2021
Watt, 31, was released by the Houston Texans, who heeded his request on Feb. 12 and ended his ten-year career with the franchise.
Four days later, Watt’s former Texan teammate and current Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins posted a photo of himself and Watt did a photoshop with a Cardinals uniform on Instagram with the text: “We finished what we to start …”
Watt will meet with Vance Joseph, the Cardinals ’defensive coordinator, who was the Texans’ defensive coach during Watt’s first three seasons in Houston.
In Arizona, Watt will be combined with passing teammate Chandler Jones, who has led the NFL in sacks since he was selected in the first round in 2012 with 97. The second during this period is Watt with 95.5.
In 2020, Watt was ranked 15th out of 119 pass-rushers qualified as a pass rush victory percentage, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He finished the season with five sacks, two forts and an interception that came back for a touchdown. He has recently been plagued by injuries as he has played 16 games in a season only twice since 2015.
After the Texans drafted Watt with the No. 11 pick in 2011, he became the face of the franchise, winning three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards from 2012 to ’15. Watt is one of three players to have won this award three times.
Watt was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and five-time All-Pro first team. Watt was by far the most productive runner in jeans history with 101 career sacks.
ESPN’s Sarah Barshop contributed to this report.