JJ Watt got released by the Houston Texans yesterday. He is free to sign with whomever he chooses in the next few days/weeks. This led to a massive local media explosion of content including some by yours truly. The idea of J.J. Watt becoming a Green Bay Packer started to look like a possibility. The thought would be Watt would either want to go to a winner or somewhere that might make sense for his personal life. Packers fit into that equation for both. But there is one tiny problem… Packers have no money. And while Russ Ball will figure out how to open up cap space, they would need some significant buy-in from Watt for him to play for his hometown team.

I’m not advocating for Watt to take a pay cut to join the Packers. Get your money, JJ. No one should be preventing him from doing that. And, likely, Watt will take a better deal. There are a variety of teams who could make a case for Watt to join their squad at a chance for a Super Bowl. That might be a tough pill for Packers fans to swallow, but that’s the facts. Watt would have been paid $17.5 million this year. Would he really want to come down to the veteran minimum only to play for his hometown team?

The odds are probably not. Pittsburgh has their own cap issues, but it would be more likely for Watt to sign there because his brothers are on that team. But if Watt wants to finish out his career in Wisconsin, there is a spot for him. He would fit in nicely with what the Packers are trying to do. And Watt could likely rake in the endorsements all over the state of Wisconsin. Companies like Kwik Trip, Associated Bank would be chomping at the bit for a guy like JJ. The local endorsement money plus his other endorsers might be enough for him to consider it.

While it’s awesome for us in the content world to talk about Watt, it’s likely not happening. But never say never.

Charlie.