The Cincinnati Bengals will seek out help along the defensive line in the draft and free agency this year and a big name just became available — Houston Texans star J.J. Watt.
Houston shocked on Friday, outright cutting Watt instead of finding a trade partner.
Watt might be 32 years old and on a decline, but context is important — he was on a terrible team last year and still put up an 85.5 Pro Football Focus grade with five sacks.
Cincinnati, sitting with a top-five number in cap space before obvious cuts like Geno Atkins, would have plenty of space to make such a move. That’s independent of whether they re-sign their own free agents William Jackson and Carl Lawson.
Granted, Watt presumably wants to join a contender as he nears the end of his career. That probably makes the Bengals a tough sell, but money is a big factor in these sort of things.
Either way, the Bengals should probably at least discuss the idea. With Atkins a non-factor and the entire defensive line needing rebuilt, a veteran like Watt is an incredible stop-gap option and mentor-type for younger players. Granted, Atkins himself is a cautionary tale of paying big money to over-30 stars, but Watt isn’t exactly an ordinary player.
If there’s even a hint a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and five-time first-team All-Pro is available, the Bengals should at least do due diligence.
