The JJ Watt Sweepstakes

Author: Matt Iberger

Editor: Aaron Mesco

It’s the end of an era for Houston. J.J. Watt, the golden child of both the Texans franchise and the city of Houston itself, will become a free agent as both sides agreed it was in their best interests to be let go. Of course, we can rag on the Texans for not getting anything in return for their star DE, but it seemed at the end of the day it was less of a headache for both sides if he was simply released and found his next team on his own. Where does the NFL star go next, and is the J.J. Watt phenomena we have in our minds still the JJ Watt we see on the field?

To put it quite simply, I believe that J.J. Watt, while not in his prime anymore, does not have one foot in the nursing home like some suggest. His brother T.J. has been getting the spotlight recently for his fantastic start to his career in Pittsburgh, J.J. should not be forgotten. Looking at the average aging curve for defensive linemen, yes most do see drop-offs and quick retirements around their early 30s, but J.J is no ordinary defensive lineman. So while his stats may seem down and look like he is nearing the end I do not think this is exactly the case. J.J. might not be the one-man wrecking crew that he was back in 2012 or 2014 when he had 20.5 sacks, but plug him into an above-average defensive line and it might feel like you are back in 2014. Keep in mind the man was double-teamed 30% of the time last season, the most among defensive ends. We have to remember that the Texans team outside of Watson and Watt had no real star power; it was an uphill battle for both of them. Watson being young and talented enough could show his talent without much help, Watt who is more aged needs some more oil to keep the gears going. That oil is a competent rusher alongside him, and there are a couple of teams with super bowl aspirations who might fit the bill. I can see him taking something around Calais Campbell’s salary of 12.5 million, but this is all just based on my own assumptions as I have no real connection to Watt’s camp. The cap for the 2021 NFL season has not been announced yet, so I’ll just be thinking of teams J.J could go to even if the cap space does not really line up but is close enough. With Father Time slowly catching up on the older Watt, he might be more inclined to take a team-friendly deal to push a d-line over the edge in terms of skill and hopefully win a ring.

The number one spot where people can really see the older Watt land is in Pittsburgh. Steelers fans like myself would be ecstatic if J.J came to join T.J. in black and gold. Pittsburgh right now is projected over the cap by about 14 million which makes this move difficult, but if J.J wants to come then you bet the front office will try to find a way to make it work. It’ll just be hard with the salary cap hell the Steelers are in with Big Ben’s massive contract for 2021. They will have to decide whether letting some other FAs walk (Zach Banner, Bud Dupree, James Conner, Juju, Alejandro Villaneuva all come to mind) and hope that they can just run over teams with a good old fashioned defense like the 2015 Denver Broncos carrying Manning to a super bowl victory. What I do think is more likely is Watt coming down to Tampa Bay to fill a Shaq Barrett-sized hole if Barrett was to leave in free agency. In my opinion, Tampa Bay’s free agency will come down to who out of Godwin, David, or Barrett are willing to let walk.

Personally, I would try to sign Barrett and David, but J.J Watt would be a nice consolation prize if Barrett was to go get paid elsewhere. Destinations after this get a little bit murky based on cap situation, fit, and also super bowl probability. For sleeper destinations, I would not count out the Bills or 49ers. Both are teams with super bowl aspirations and relatively ok on cap space right now. I find these less likely than the above scenarios, but still, options to join a defensive line with some star power. I know Green Bay is a popular pick but I just do not see it happening because of the free agents they need to resign. I know Pittsburgh should fall in the same category with their cap situation, but I give them a pass mainly because I think T.J would be inside the organization really hammering to get his brother a spot if J.J did want to come. I still would place Tampa Bay above all other options, but do not count out any other teams from this sweepstakes. If your team is playoff material and not doing its due diligence on J.J Watt, then it is time for your front office to go. Despite getting older J.J is primed to age like fine wine, and you do not want to be the offensive lineman that will have to line up one on one against him next season.

SPORTS ARE OUR UNIVERSE

2021 NFL Mock Draft

Author: Kiernan Fischer

Editor: Brian Symons

With the season in the books, it is time to start thinking about the draft. A lot will change between now and April but here is my first mock of the year. I’m deciding to not have trades in this mock even though there will obviously be trades in the real draft. My first mock is going to be about how each team can improve their roster with the pick they have.

1. Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence

Lawrence has been the guy for years now. Let’s move on

2. New York Jets: Zach Wilson QB BYU

Wilson’s stock has shot up after lighting it up at BYU. The highest-rated PFF QB last year will look to lead the Jets back to relevance

3. Miami Dolphins: Penei Sewell OT Oregon

Sewell is the most hyped-up lineman in recent memory and the best non-QB in this class. If the Dolphins do keep this pick I can’t see them passing on him.

4. Atlanta Falcons: Justin Fields QB Ohio State

Matt Ryan isn’t returning to MVP form and the Falcons should pick his replacement in a loaded QB class instead of waiting until his arm is all the way gone. I could see them trading this pick, but either way, Fields will be picked in this spot.

5. Cincinnati Bengals: Jamar Chase WR LSU

With Sewell off the board, the Bengals keep their franchise QB happy and get his college teammate. Chase has the potential to be just as good as his former teammate Justin Jefferson and could give the Bengals two great young receivers.

6. Philly Eagles: Devonte Smith WR Alabama

The Eagles need weapons. I thought about Pitts here but Smith is coming off a Heisman and championship and the Eagles seem to have faith in Goedert at TE. The Eagles stick with Hurts and get him a weapon.

7. Detroit Lions: Micha Parsons LB Penn State

We saw in the Super Bowl how a linebacker that has the speed to cover sideline to sideline can impact a game and with head coach Dan Campbell looking to play hard-nosed defense I see this as a perfect fit.

8. Carolina Panthers: Trey Lance QB North Dakota State

The Panthers move on from the bridge quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and get a potential franchise QB at 8.

9. Denver Broncos: Caleb Farley CB Virginia Tech

In a division with Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes the Broncos take the top corner on the board. While Farley did not play in the 2020 season he’s shown enough to warrant this pick and has the size and speed to keep up with anyone.

10. Dallas Cowboys: Patrick Surtain ll CB Alabama

PFF’s highest-rated corner in college football last season goes to a secondary in need of playmakers. The only thing preventing Surtain from being in the top corner is his lack of elite speed. But he plays fast and has instincts and techniques to make up for it. Whether he or Farley should be the CB1 will be a heated debate up until the draft.

11. New York Giants: Jalen Waddle WR Alabama

The Giants get the playmaker they’ve been missing since trading away Odell Beckham Jr. Getting Jones a top-tier receiver in this class will also help to see if Jones is really the franchise guy.

12. San Fransisco 49ers: Kyle Pitts TE Florida

The 49ers may have other needs to fill but in this scenario, they can’t pass up adding an elite receiving threat to their offense. The 49ers already have some non-traditional hybrid players on their offense with Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Deebo Samuel. Adding Pitts and running 4 wide with two tight ends would be really fun. The Niners already have two tight ends on the field with their run game anyway so this is maybe the best fit for him. By the time April rolls around Pitts may go in the top 5 but right now I’m putting him here.

13. Los Angles Chargers: Rashawn Slater OT Northwestern

The Chargers got their franchise QB last draft and they work on protecting him with this pick. Slater may have opted out in 2020 but he showed that he is a first-round talent with his tape and can play guard or tackle.

14. Minnesota Vikings: Kwity Paye DE Michigan

The Vikings address their D-Line and get what many are calling the top edge rusher in the class which is usually not the case at pick 14.

15. New England Patriots: Christan Barmore DL Alabama

In a weak D-Tackle class, the Patriots pick by far the most talented one available. They look today 2 to get a receiver.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Christan Darrisaw OT Virginia Tech

The Cards choose to go with the breakout lineman to both protect Murray and help in the run game.

17. Las Vegas Raider: Greg Rouseau DE Miami

The Raiders have had a bottom-five pass rush ever since trading Khalil Mack and Rouseau has the length you want to get to the QB. He’s being mocked as high as 11 in other mocks so the Raiders are happy in this scenario to pick him here

18. Miami Dolphins: Jerimiah Owusu-Koramoah LB Notre Dame

The Dolphins get the best coverage linebacker in the draft and add him to an already well-coached and talented defense.

19. Washington Football Team: Jaycee Horn CB South Carolina

With a front four that is one of the best in the NFL Washington goes with a corner to try to give those pass rushers even more time to get to the quarterback.

20. Chicago Bears: Kevin Toney WR Florida

The Bears need receiving help even if Robinson stays, which it is looking like he won’t. No matter who is at QB for Chicago he will need more than what they currently have and they address that with the speedster from Florida.

21. Indianapolis Colts: Alijah Vera-Tucker OT

With Anthony Costanzo retiring the Colt’s waste no time drafting his replacement. Some have said he is a better guard than tackle but here the Colts draft him to play that spot.

22. Tennesee Titans: Azeez Ojulari DE Georgia

The Titans were terrible at rushing the passer last year and they address that with one of the best pure speed rushers in this class and an explosive athlete

23. New York Jets: Najee Harris RB Alabama

The Jets need explosive players around their new franchise QB and they start at the running back spot. With all due respect to legend Frank Gore this will be a significant upgrade for the running game.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers Tevon Jenkins OT Oklahoma State

The Steelers had the worst rushing attack in the league in 2020, yet another weird thing about that year. With LT Andrew Villanueva likely gone and Marcus Pouncey retired the Steelers start rebuilding their offensive line here in the first round.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars: Nick Bolton LB Mizzouri

Urban Myer knows you need fast linebackers in college and in the NFL and Bolton is just that. Bolton will start right away for a rebuilding defense

26. Clevland Browns: Jayson Oweh DE Penn State

The Browns find themselves in unfamiliar territory at the bottom of the draft. The Browns need to improve their defense to compete with the top dogs in the AFC and they draft the fast-rising end from Penn State. Lining him up across from All-Pro talent Myles Garratt could be deadly.

27. Baltimore Ravens: Trevon Moehrig TCU Safety

The Ravens usually take the best available regardless of position and at this stage, I think Moehrig is the best available. He’s the best safety in the class and has lead the nation in pass breakups the past two seasons (PFF)

28. New Orleans Saints: Zaven Collins LB Tulsa

Mac Jones is a popular pick in a lot of mock drafts but I don’t see Jones as a franchise QB and I think the Saints will stick with Jameis Winston and go with Collins to bolster their already talented defense. Collins is a great blitzer and can make plays in the open field and Sean Payton will make sure his skillset is utilized to its full potential.

29. Green Bay Packers: Asante Sammuel Jr. CB Florida State

Anyone who saw Kevin King play in the NFC Championship knows why the Packers are making this pick here.

30. Buffalo Bills: Travis Etienne RB Clemson

Running back is one of the only places the Bills don’t have a standout talent so they try to get a stud back and upgrade their offense which is already elite.

31. Kanas City Chiefs: Jalen Mayfield OT Michigan

The Chiefs could go a lot of ways with this pick but with the sting of the Super Bowl still fresh they get a talented tackle prospect and add depth at the position and ensure Mahomes is always protected.

32. Tampa Bay Joesph Ossai DE Texas

The champs have the most complete roster in football so they take the best available. This pick will become more clear once we know who the Bucs plan to keep for next year with a lot of big decisions to be made this free agency.

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A Crucial Offseason for the Jets

Author: Zachary Patlin

Editor: Brian Symons

The Jets have been mentioned all offseason in trade rumors swirling around Deshaun Watson with their heavy draft capital and need for a franchise QB. This, however, seems bleak at this point in the offseason due to the Texans doing everything in their power to keep their young QB1. So what are the alternatives knowing that Deshaun probably is not being traded this offseason, let along to the Jets?

The Jets own the second pick in the 2021 NFL draft, with a variety of options with that pick. They also hold a later first round pick that can be used to take an impact player outside of the QB position such as Najee Harris or Travis Etienne. With the second pick the Jets can take QB Zach Wilson out of BYU, QB Justin Fields out of Ohio State, Penei Sewell out of Oregon, or multiple other players that can impact the team if they do decide to hold that pick.

If the Jets decide to take the route of drafting a non QB with that second overall pick, it most likely means that they are preparing to build around Darnold for at least the next two seasons under new coaching regime led by Robert Saleh. The Jets could also take the route of taking the QB with the two pick and trading Darnold to a team like the Steelers or the Colts for a late first round pick or early second round pick to continue to build its draft capital and start fresh.

Any way that the Jets decide to go with the pick and their QB situation this offseason will be vital for the teams future and will be a huge part of the way Joe Douglas will be evaluated as the GM of the Jets. They cannot afford to make another bad decision with an extremely valuable draft pick and a ton of draft capital over the next two years. Douglas’s philosophy has always been to build through the draft, so let’s see if he can really do that.

Outside of the draft free agency looms large for the club as they look to fully rebuild both their Offensive line and their Defensive line. With the most cap space in all of football heading into the offseason, look for Joe Douglas to be competitive in free agency to build this team up the way they project to play moving forward. Although the Jets may not be good next year, this offseason is crucial for the teams success in the near future and many jobs are on the line as a result of the importance of the offseason.

SPORTS ARE OUR UNIVERSE