J.J. Watt

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Cardinals, DE Age: 32-27d Exp: 10 Years
Drafted: Round 1 (#11 overall), 2011 College: Wisconsin Agent(s): RJ Gonser (CAA Sports)
Immediate Impact Additions to each 2021 NFL Roster
Now more than a quarter into the 2021 NFL regular season, we've identified a player from each team who's made an immediate impact since being newly added this offseason. READ ON

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Cardinals – The Athletic

  • Current Contract

    J.J. Watt signed a 2 year, $28,000,000 contract with the Arizona Cardinals, including a $12,000,000 signing bonus, $23,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $14,000,000. In 2021, Watt will earn a base salary of $2,500,000 and a signing bonus of $12,000,000, while carrying a cap hit of $4,900,000 and a dead cap value of $20,000,000.

    Contract: 2 yr(s) / $28,000,000
    Signing Bonus $12,000,000
    Average Salary $14,000,000
    Total Guarantees $23,000,000
    Guaranteed at Signing $20,000,000
    Free Agent: 2023 / UFA
      Bonus Breakdown Cap Details Cash Details  
    Year   Age Base Salary Signing Roster Cap Hit Dead Cap Yearly Cash
    2021 Contract details by year 32 $2,500,000 $2,400,000 - $4,900,000 $20,000,000 $14,500,000($14,500,000)
    Pre-6/1 Release 2021 Dead Cap: $20,000,000 2021 Cap Savings: $-15,100,000 Pre-6/1 Trade 2021 Dead Cap: $12,000,000 2021 Cap Savings: $-7,100,000 Post-6/1 Release 2021 Dead Cap: $10,400,000 2022 Dead Cap: $9,600,000 2021 Cap Savings: $-5,500,000 Post-6/1 Trade 2021 Dead Cap: $2,400,000 2022 Dead Cap: $9,600,000 2021 Cap Savings: $2,500,000
    2022 Contract details by year 33 $11,250,000 $2,400,000 $2,250,000 $15,900,000 $15,100,000 $13,500,000($28,000,000)
    Pre-6/1 Release 2022 Dead Cap: $15,100,000 2022 Cap Savings: $800,000 Pre-6/1 Trade 2022 Dead Cap: $9,600,000 2022 Cap Savings: $6,300,000 Post-6/1 Release 2022 Dead Cap: $7,900,000 2023 Dead Cap: $7,200,000 2022 Cap Savings: $8,000,000 Post-6/1 Trade 2022 Dead Cap: $2,400,000 2023 Dead Cap: $7,200,000 2022 Cap Savings: $13,500,000
    2023 Contract details by year 34 - $2,400,000 - $7,200,000 - -
    Pre-6/1 Release 2023 Dead Cap: $0 2023 Cap Savings: $7,200,000 Pre-6/1 Trade 2023 Dead Cap: $0 2023 Cap Savings: $7,200,000 Post-6/1 Release 2023 Dead Cap: $0 2024 Dead Cap: $0 2023 Cap Savings: $7,200,000 Post-6/1 Trade 2023 Dead Cap: $0 2024 Dead Cap: $0 2023 Cap Savings: $7,200,000
    2024 Contract details by year 35 - $2,400,000 - $2,400,000 - -
    Pre-6/1 Release 2024 Dead Cap: $0 2024 Cap Savings: $0 Pre-6/1 Trade 2024 Dead Cap: $0 2024 Cap Savings: $0 Post-6/1 Release 2024 Dead Cap: $0 2025 Dead Cap: $0 2024 Cap Savings: $0 Post-6/1 Trade 2024 Dead Cap: $0 2025 Dead Cap: $0 2024 Cap Savings: $0
    2025 Contract details by year 36 - $2,400,000 - $2,400,000 - -
    Pre-6/1 Release 2025 Dead Cap: $0 2025 Cap Savings: $0 Pre-6/1 Trade 2025 Dead Cap: $0 2025 Cap Savings: $0 Post-6/1 Release 2025 Dead Cap: $0 2026 Dead Cap: $0 2025 Cap Savings: $0 Post-6/1 Trade 2025 Dead Cap: $0 2026 Dead Cap: $0 2025 Cap Savings: $0
    2023 Free Agent Year 37 UFA  
    Contract Notes:
    • $20M guaranteed at signing (signing bonus + 2020 salary + $3.25M of 2022 salary + 2022 roster bonus)
    • Additional $3M of 2022 salary fully guarantees in March of 2022 (injury guaranteed now)
    • $1M bonus + $1M base escalator for 10 sacks in 2021
    • $1M bonus for 10 sacks in 2022
    • No Trade Clause
    • 2023-25 automatically void prior to the 2023 league year ($7.2M of dead cap)
    Sources: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

    Previous Contracts

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    2014-2021

    Contract: 6 yr(s) / $100,005,425
    Signing Bonus $10,000,000
    Average Salary $16,667,571
    Total Guarantees $51,876,000
    Guaranteed at Signing $30,881,810
    Free Agent: 2022 / UFA

    2011-2015Entry Level

    Contract: 4 yr(s) / $11,237,498
    Signing Bonus $6,672,728
    Average Salary $2,809,375
    Total Guarantees $11,237,498
    Guaranteed at Signing -
    Free Agent: 2016 / UFA

  • Estimated Career Earnings

    Year Team Awards Salary Signing Bonus Roster Bonus Workout Bonus Restructure Bonus Option Bonus Incentive Earnings
    2011 Player Cash Earnings $375,000 $6,672,728 - - - - - $7,047,728
    2012 Player Cash Earnings DPOY $885,795 - - - - - - $885,795
    2013 Player Cash Earnings $1,396,590 - - - - - - $1,396,590
    2014 Player Cash Earnings DPOY $907,385 $10,000,000 - - - - - $10,907,385
    2015 Player Cash Earnings DPOY $9,969,000 - - - $10,000,000 - - $19,969,000
    2016 Player Cash Earnings $10,500,000 - - - - - - $10,500,000
    2017 Player Cash Earnings $10,500,000 - - - - - - $10,500,000
    2018 Player Cash Earnings $11,000,000 - - - - - - $11,000,000
    2019 Player Cash Earnings $13,000,000 - - - - - - $13,000,000
    2020 Player Cash Earnings $15,500,000 - - - - - $41,502 $15,541,502
    2021 Player Cash Earnings $2,500,000 $12,000,000 - - - - - $14,500,000
    11 seasons $76,533,770 $28,672,728 - - $10,000,000 - $41,502 $115,248,000
    2022 Player Cash Earnings $11,250,000 - $2,250,000 - - - - $13,500,000
    $87,783,770 $28,672,728 $2,250,000 - $10,000,000 - $41,502 $128,748,000
    Seasons Team Salary Signing Bonus Roster Bonus Workout Bonus Restructure Bonus Option Bonus Incentive Total Cash
    10 seasons Player Cash Earnings $74,033,770 $16,672,728 - - $10,000,000 - $41,502 $100,748,000
    1 seasons Player Cash Earnings $2,500,000 $12,000,000 - - - - - $14,500,000

  • Fines

    • Player contract details by year 10/03/2014, $16,537

      Roughing the Passer against E.J. Manuel (BUF)

    • Player contract details by year 11/30/2012, $15,750

      for hitting Lions QB Matthew Stafford in the head/neck area

    • TOTAL: $32,287

  • Transactions

    Mar 1 2021Signed a 2 year $28 million contract with Arizona (ARI)
    Feb 12 2021Released by Houston (HOU), clearing $17.5 million of cap
    Mar 24 2015Converted his $10M roster bonus into signing bonus, clearing $8M of 2015 cap space for Houston (HOU)
    Oct 3 2014Fined $16,537 Roughing the Passer against E.J. Manuel (BUF)
    Sep 2 2014Signed a 6 year $100 million extension with Houston (HOU)
    Apr 17 2014Houston (HOU) exercised a $6.969 million option for 2015
    Jul 31 2011Signed a 4 year $11.23 million contract with Houston (HOU)
    Apr 28 2011Drafted by Houston (HOU): Round 1 (#11 overall)

  • 2021 Player Rankings

    A visual look at how J.J. Watt ranks across the league, conference, division, and team.

     

    Cap Hit ($0) Rank
    NFL: #
    Arizona Cardinals: #
    Defensive End: #

    Total Cash ($0) Rank
    NFL: #
    Defensive End: #

    Average Annual ($0) Rank
    NFL: #
    Defensive End: #
  •  

    Statistics

    Season Team GA GP GS Snaps Snaps% Sacks Tackles Solo Tackles Ast Tackles FF INT
    2021 ARI 6 6 6 311 81.4 1 15 9 6 1
    2020 HOU 16 16 16 1013 97.1 5 52 36 16 2 1
    2019 HOU 8 8 8 482 44.3 4 24 15 9 1
    2018 HOU 16 16 16 962 91.2 16 61 47 14 7
    2017 HOU 5 5 5 218 21.9 15 11 4
    2016 HOU 4 3 3 158 16.7 1.5 8 1 7
    2015 HOU 16 16 16 1007 96.8 17.5 76 57 19 3
    2014 HOU 16 16 16 1050 94.0 20.5 78 59 19 4 1
    2013 HOU 16 16 16 960 95.2 10.5 80 65 15 4
    2012 HOU 16 16 16 937 89.0 20.5 81 69 12 4
    2011 HOU 16 16 16 5.5 56 49 7
    Totals 135 134 134 7,098 - 102 546 418 128 26 2