Would J.J. Watt sign with the Steelers on a cheap deal this offseason?

J.J. Watt was recently granted his release from the Houston Texans. Would he be willing to join his brothers as a member of the Steelers? 

Ever since fullback Derek Watt joined the team as an unrestricted free agent last offseason, Steelers fans have been lobbying for the trifecta. It’s rare that three siblings are ever in the NFL together, but to be on the same field at the same time is entirely unheard of. Now, it seems like there could be a chance of that happening for the first time ever.

Adam Schefter broke the news on Friday morning that star defensive lineman J.J. Watt had been granted his release from the Texans – a team that is clearly at the beginning of a rebuild. After Watt was rumored to be traded, Houston has now cut him and he is free to sign with whichever team he pleases.

Trading for the future Hall of Famer was never really an option for the Steelers. While Pittsburgh could have afforded the draft compensation in a deal, his $17.5 million cap number would have been almost impossible to fit into their budget. With Watt now a free agent and free to sign a new contract, the rumors for J.J. to come to Pittsburgh could hold more truth than ever.

Why J.J. Watt to Steelers is a real possibility now

Because Watt has been released, his old cap number is no longer relevant to the team looking to sign him. This, however, doesn’t mean that there aren’t teams out there who would be willing to give him $12-15 million per season, but it does give the Steelers a fighting chance.

J.J. Watt has made it clear on social media this past season that he was jealous of his brothers (T.J. and Derek) getting to play on the same team with each other last year. Currently, Draft Kings Sportsbook has the Steelers as the odds-on favorites to land the former 3-time Defensive Player of the Year at +400.

Let’s say that Watt really does want to come to Pittsburgh to play alongside his brothers. There are ways the Steelers can actually make this work now. For starters, everyone will point to the fact that he could potentially take a discount to play in Pittsburgh. But even if he doesn’t do that, they can structure his contract in a way that pushes a large portion of his cap into the future.

Though their cap situation is less than ideal right now, Pittsburgh is set to have the most cap space in the NFL in 2022, according to Over the Cap. Because of this, they could push a lot of his money further down the road – assuming they give him a multiple-year deal.

The problem the Steelers face right now is they will be forced to quickly find a way to get back under the cap in order to make this work. It won’t be easy, but it’s possible. Either way, if J.J. Watt comes knocking on your door, you answer. It would be a historic moment if Watt joined his brothers in Pittsburgh in 2021. Stay with us as we will follow this story closely.