TEMPE, Arizona – Free agent JJ Watt has agreed to a two-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals, the team announced on Monday.
The terms were not disclosed, but a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN that the deal is worth $ 31 million and includes a guaranteed $ 23 million.
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 responded on February 12, ending his 10-year season with the franchise.
Four days later, Watt’s former Texas teammate and current Cardinals wide receiver, DeAndre Hopkins, posted a photo of him with Watt wearing a Cardinals uniform on Instagram with the caption: “Let’s finish what we started … “
Watt will meet with Vance Joseph, the Cardinals ‘defensive coordinator, who was the Texans’ defensive back coach during Watt’s first three seasons in Houston.
In Arizona, Watt will be paired with fellow passenger Chandler Jones, who has been leading the NFL in sacks since he was called up in the first round in 2012 with 97. The second during that period is Watt with 95.5.
In 2020, Watt ranked 15th out of 119 pass-rushers qualified for the pass rush victory rate, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He ended the season with five sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception, he returned for a touchdown. He is suffering from injuries recently, having played 16 games in a season just twice since 2015.
After the Texans chose Watt as the 11th choice 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 win the prize three times.
A selection five times from the Pro Bowl and five times from the All-Pro of the first team, Watt was by far the most productive pass-rusher in Texas history, with 101 career layoffs.
ESPN’s Sarah Barshop contributed to this report.