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Draftkings Sportsbook has the Steelers as the odds-on favorite to sign J.J. Watt at +400, and according to Ed Werder of ESPN, the Steelers are one of a dozen teams to have shown interest in Watt since he announced on Twitter Friday morning that he and the Texans have mutually parted ways.
Along with the Steelers, the Browns, Bills, and Titans are the teams that Werder specifically mentions who have expresses interest in the three-time Defensive Player of the Year. Sources told ESPN that Watt's priority in determining his next team will be his belief that he can play in a Super Bowl with that team based on its supporting cast.
This past November, Watt made it clear he was not interested in playing for a team going through a "rebuild."
"I don't think it's any secret that I don't have 10 years left in this league," Watt said in November. "I personally believe that I do have a few more great ones left in me. But you also can't ... I'm not looking to rebuild. I'm looking to go after a championship, and that's what I want to do."
If Watt isn't looking to play for a team that is rebuilding and wants to win a ring before he retires, a team like the Packers would make sense and he'll return to his home state of Wisconsin. The Browns, Bills and Titans were all in the playoffs this past year and Cleveland has the most projected cap space with around $21 million.
The Steelers are currently projected to be $22 million over the salary cap and they could be going through a rebuilding process with Ben Roethlisberger turning 39 years old in March and on the last year of his contract coupled with the fact that they're likely to lose key players like JuJu Smith-Schuster and Bud Dupree in free agency.
However, the money might not matter to Watt if he wants to finish his career playing with his brothers T.J. and Derek. If he wants to win a Super Bowl ring before he retires like it's been reported, there are probably better options for him other than the Steelers.