If J.J. Watt will re-structure, Cleveland Browns should jump on trade

With the Texans having a fallout, reports say J.J. Watt wants out. If he’s willing to restructure, the Cleveland Browns must jump on it.

It’s safe to say that it has been a pretty rough week for the Houston Texans.

From franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson requesting a trade, to reports that some believe J.J. Watt has played his last game for the Texans, it’s clearly tough times over in Houston.

Reports are that Watt has played his last game in Houston, meaning the Texans would have to move him via trade, just like Watson, as Watt is in the last year of his mega 6-year, $100 million dollar plus contract.

For the Cleveland Browns, targeting a player such as Watt would make their sub-par defense a lot better, but only if he is willing to restructure.

Watt is entering the last year of his monster contract, as his cap hit for his final season comes in at $17.5 million. With the Browns having as many holes as they do on the defensive side of the ball, they just can’t afford to pay him that much for one year, especially not at age 31.

Less money, however, would make Watt a very attractive piece to the defense, and the Browns should definitely at least make the call. With the way Watt handled his press conference after the last game of the season for the Texans, it appears he cares more about winning than anything else, rightfully so. That said, making a re-structured deal happen doesn’t seem too crazy after his powerful speech.

As for the Browns need at defensive end, Olivier Vernon had a solid season this past year, especially in the second half of the season before he ruptured his achilles in Week 17. With Vernon set to now become a free agent, the Browns will likely not re-sign him, especially after such an injury so late in the year. That said, Watt could be the perfect replacement — if they can possibly get him on a new deal at  about $4-6 million less than what he is currently slated to get.

Watt still has something left in the tank, as he had a productive season last year, having a killer final grade to his season, ranking at the top of defensive ends. Watt also had 40 solo tackles that ranked 5th, five sacks and two forced fumbles.

The best sounding part about all of this? Watt playing on the same defense and opposite of the one man wrecking crew in Myles Garrett.

Again, the Browns just can’t pay him what he is currently scheduled to get having as many liabilities on defense as they currently do.

Still, Watt clearly wants to win and play alongside people who do, and what better team to do so with other than the Cleveland Browns, a team who has been hungry to win forever and is finally starting to put everything together.