Ranking 49ers’ Nick Bosa, NFC West’s 4 other top pass-rushers
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: Defensive End J.J. Watt, Arizona Cardinals
2020 Stat Line: 52 tackles, 17 QB hits, 5 sacks
True, J.J. Watt might no longer be at the pinnacle of his career. Soon to be 32 years old, Watt’s recent history has been more associated with injuries than by his stellar play on the field. After all, he appeared in just eight regular-season games between 2016 and 2017 and then missed eight such games in 2019.
But Watt stayed healthy for all of 2020. And despite registering only five sacks last year, which was a career-low for him over a full season, there’s little doubting his prowess as a prolific pass-rusher still exists.
Especially when he won’t have to “do it all alone” on the defensive line.
Where Watt wins here is because he’ll have Chandler Jones to do a lot of the supplementary work Watt didn’t exactly have during his final year with the Texans. Granted, just like Jones, Watt will have to stay healthy and showcase he’s not in the twilight of his career.
Rather just “reinventing” himself amid a new context and with new defensive linemates.
Yet if there’s a player with that kind of pedigree to do it, Watt certainly is it.