J.J. Watt, Deandre Hopkins, Houston Texans. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
DeAndre Hopkins is recruiting his former Houston Texans teammate J.J. Watt to the Arizona Cardinals.
After seven years as Houston Texans teammates, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is keen on getting defensive end J.J. Watt to reunite with him in the Valley of the Sun.
Hopkins shared a picture of him and Watt embracing in Texans uniforms on Instagram citing, “Let’s finish what we started…”. From 2015 to 2019, this duo helped the Texans win four AFC South titles. As much as Hopkins is hoping for a reunion, outspoken Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster would prefer Watt join his team to play ball with his two younger brothers.
Watt is infinitely more likely to play for the Steelers than the Cardinals in 2021
Because Watt’s two younger brothers, Derek and T.J. Watt, are on the Steelers’ roster, this gives Pittsburgh a leg up on signing him in his free agency. If Pittsburgh does not re-sign Bud Dupree this offseason, there is a spot readily available for Watt to join the AFC North contender. However, going to the Cardinals could be an appealing option for him to link up with a team on the rise.
Pittsburgh is in win-now mode, as the Steelers do not have a succession plan beyond an aging Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback. Arizona is not quite a playoff team, but the Cardinals do have an emerging star at the position in former Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray. Hopkins may want Watt to join him in Arizona, but the Cardinals are the latest team to join a long list of suitors.
Watt joining the Cardinals would be an interesting fit, but he is more likely to sign elsewhere.