Arizona Cardinals star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins wants to see free-agent defensive lineman J.J. Watt join him in the desert.
The three-time All-Pro took to Instagram to recruit Watt, posting a photo of the two with a rather direct caption:
View this post on Instagram
The caption alludes to their days as teammates with the Houston Texans.
Houston shockingly traded Hopkins to the Cardinals last March amid his purported dispute with then-head coach and general manager Bill O'Brien. After a season full of turmoil and frustration, Watt and the Texans agreed to part ways this offseason. Houston cut Watt, and Hopkins hopes his former teammate signs with the Cardinals.
The fit is pretty obvious. Arizona struggled against the run last season. The pass rush was fairly surprising, considering Chandler Jones played all of five games. But adding Watt would fortify the defensive front and give the Cardinals a noted playmaker.
Of course, Arizona also has plenty of needs in the secondary, as veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson will not return in 2021. The Cardinals might also look to add a more legitimate No. 2 receiver to complement Hopkins.
Still, the Cardinals could well look to sign Watt. Arizona's defense experienced tremendous year-over-year improvement, and the offense has explosive potential with Kyler Murray under center.
Hopkins is appealing to Watt's sentimentality, but also undoubtedly feels the Cardinals are better off with the three-time Defensive Player of the Year on the roster.
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