The 2022 season has been an up-and-down one for the Arizona Cardinals and there doesn’t seem to be much relief on the horizon. This was a roster that had a few holes on it coming into the offseason and they have remained apparent throughout the first seven games of the season, which Arizona has gone 3-4 during. Could a deal involving JJ Watt with the Kansas City Chiefs be a potential future move?
Right now, the offense is middle of the road as they have had to deal with numerous injuries. Running back James Conner has not been healthy, while wide receiver Marquise Brown is now sidelined. DeAndre Hopkins just returned from his six-game suspension and that will help, but the real issue for this team is defense.
Arizona currently ranks 27th in points against and 22nd in yardage allowed, putting the team in a tough spot to succeed. They offer little resistance against teams passing the ball, as the pass rush has been nonexistent with only 11 sacks.
JJ Watt is currently leading the team with 2.5 sacks on the season, but could his tenure with the franchise be nearing an end? Arizona signed him during the 2021 offseason after the Houston Texans, with whom he spent the first 10 years of his career, released him.
The former Defensive Player of the Year joined the Cardinals hoping to get them over the hump as contenders, but they haven’t been able to climb that mountain. Arizona made the playoffs last season but was easily handled in the Wild Card round by the Los Angeles Rams.
Should the Cardinals even make it that far this season, it is likely the same would occur. This just isn’t a contending team and there are a lot of people that would love to see Watt finish his career vying for a Super Bowl.
One team that would be able to provide him with that opportunity is the Kansas City Chiefs. They are a suggested landing spot for Watt and it would be a perfect fit for him. Kansas City’s defense has been shaky at times and adding another elite pass rusher certainly wouldn’t hurt.
Watt is signed through 2023 with a base salary of $11.25 million next year. Absorbing that size of contract could be difficult, which would also lower the asking price. Arizona isn’t likely looking to see, so the Chiefs will have to present a sizable offer.
But, it would not be surprising if they do. Kansas City just traded a third-round compensatory pick and a sixth-round pick to the New York Giants in exchange for wide receiver Kadarius Toney. Still, with 10 picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, Kansas City has the pieces to build a package for Watt.
Robert Quinn, who is signed through 2024, fetched a fourth-round pick for the Chicago Bears from the Philadelphia Eagles. For Watt, the Chiefs could try offering the same. But, the Bears are knowingly in a rebuild, the Cardinals are not. A third-round pick is what should get the job done, giving Watt a chance to chase that elusive Super Bowl ring.
