Active
Cardinals – The Athletic
Cardinals free agency: If Patrick Peterson walks, secondary is priority
2021 NFL mock draft: Trade buzz! Jets make QB call, Broncos go first on defense
NFL Draft debate: Which Alabama WR has the edge, DeVonta Smith or Jaylen Waddle?
-
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 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 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 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 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 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 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
To see the rest of the J.J. Watt's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. Already Subscribed? Login Here
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 $375,000 $6,672,728 - - - - - $7,047,728 2012 DPOY $885,795 - - - - - - $885,795 2013 $1,396,590 - - - - - - $1,396,590 2014 DPOY $907,385 $10,000,000 - - - - - $10,907,385 2015 DPOY $9,969,000 - - - $10,000,000 - - $19,969,000 2016 $10,500,000 - - - - - - $10,500,000 2017 $10,500,000 - - - - - - $10,500,000 2018 $11,000,000 - - - - - - $11,000,000 2019 $13,000,000 - - - - - - $13,000,000 2020 $15,500,000 - - - - - - $15,500,000 10 seasons $74,033,770 $16,672,728 - - $10,000,000 - - $100,706,498 2021 $2,500,000 $12,000,000 - - - - - $14,500,000 2022 $11,250,000 - $2,250,000 - - - - $13,500,000 $87,783,770 $28,672,728 $2,250,000 - $10,000,000 - - $128,706,498 Seasons Team Salary Signing Bonus Roster Bonus Workout Bonus Restructure Bonus Option Bonus Incentive Total Cash 10 seasons $74,033,770 $16,672,728 - - $10,000,000 - - $100,706,498 -
Fines
-
10/03/2014, $16,537
Roughing the Passer against E.J. Manuel (BUF)
-
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 capMar 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 2015Jul 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 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 129 128 128 6,787 - 101 531 409 122 25 2