Speaking of 'Cashing In' -- JJ Watt = 100m man

[jshawaii22]

Supposedly has more than 50m guaranteed and over 100m total over 6. Last 2 years of his rookie deal gone. Highest paid D man in the history of the league.

Makes Richard and ET's deals look pretty good for the team on paper...

If we win back-to-back, get ready for 25m a year over 5 for Russell, or thereabouts. Glad the Cap moves another 15-20m next year.

js

[NorthHawk]

And almost $52 million guaranteed over 6 years for Watt.

[RiverDog]

Watt is a force against both the pass as well as the run, perhaps the best all around defensive lineman since Reggie White. He's also the "face of the franchise" down in Houston, a city that doesn't have a lot of notable professional athletes to serve as an icon for their community.

It's a lot of money for someone that won't be scoring many touchdowns, but if there's a defensive player that's worth it, it's JJ Watt.

[c_hawkbob]

He's earned it. In a couple years they'll look good for having gotten the deal done before the market exploded.

[burrrton]

if there's a defensive player that's worth it, it's JJ Watt.

This.

[FolkCrusader]

He is such a beast. Was worth watching Hard Knocks just to see him go up against Mathews. Mathews is a fine tackle, but JJ made it look pretty clear he's a rookie. After the joint practice Mike Tice commented to Mathews, "well you won't have to go up against some one like JJ every week". True enough, not a lot like him out there.

[kalibane]

Best defender in the game ... might as well be paid like it.

[nlbmsportin]

I would rather have the LOB as a unit than one JJ Watt, but if I could have one defensive player in the entire NFL it would be Watt. Absolutely devastating player and may be still underpaid.

[obiken]

Yeah only Franchise QB's should make that kind of money. The cap hit is huge.

[Zorn76]

Good for him. At the end of the day, the real jackpot of a career is having enough money to last you (and family, if Applicable) the rest of your life.

In a football sense, it's too bad he's stuck on a franchise who'll likely never win (or even reach) a SB. That's the Colts' division as long as Luck is around with a decent cast. Best thing the Texans could do is stink it up again and try to draft a franchise QB. Meanwhile, it's Ryan Fitzpatrick with Ryan Mallett on deck.

Have fun.

[RiverDog]

Good for him. At the end of the day, the real jackpot of a career is having enough money to last you (and family, if Applicable) the rest of your life.

In a football sense, it's too bad he's stuck on a franchise who'll likely never win (or even reach) a SB. That's the Colts' division as long as Luck is around with a decent cast. Best thing the Texans could do is stink it up again and try to draft a franchise QB. Meanwhile, it's Ryan Fitzpatrick with Ryan Mallett on deck.

Have fun.

I wouldn't make that assumption. Houston isn't Cleveland and it isn't Oakland. They had a small window that slammed shut last season, who's to say that in a few years they can't get back to the level they were just two seasons ago?

Like a lot of teams, they need a quarterback. They were wise not to take the bait and select Manziel, which a lot of people were pressuring them to do, and instead picked a Pro Bowler in the making in Clowney. I don't think Andrew Luck is looking forward to seeing a DL with a guy like Clowney lining up next to JJ Watt.

[Zorn76]

Yea, I know, forecasts covering several years into the future are a bit dicey, particularly when we're talking about today's NFL.

And Watt is only 25. Still, I'll stick to this prediction. I'm not going out on much of a limb, really, when you consider only one team wins it all each season. Maybe JJ plays well into his 30's, who knows. I just haven't seen enough from the Texans, all things being equal.

Great expectations have seen them flounder, and they reamain - until proven otherwise - a team with a weak psyche. Last year was an anomaly of sorts, but it will still be tough sledding until they get a legit franchise QB, and they don't have one now. Like everyone else, they're hoping to find their own RW next draft. Odds are slim, but they can hope.