With the 30th-pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected T.J. Watt out of the University of Wisconsin.
Everybody has been following Watt’s career at Wisconsin since the day he stepped on campus. His older brother, J.J., has become one of the best defenders football has since since Lawrence Taylor, dominating off the edge for the Houston Texans.
So how does T.J. compare? He’s likely not going to be his brother, well, nobody is. The younger Watt has put together some impressive tape in the Big Ten, holding his own and then some against Michigan and Ohio State. At 252 pounds, he will need to gain weight to play with his hand in the dirt. As a standup rusher, Watt will need to develop some of his moves.
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 252
40-time: 4.69
Bench: 21 reps
Vertical: 37”
Broad: 128”
3-cone: 6.79
Currently, Watt is raw but the tools are there for him to become an explosive player. At the start, it would be wise to play him on passing downs to let him clear his mind and rush the passer. Over time, Watt can gradually be worked into becoming a three-down player.
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At Wisconsin, Watt only started in one season, giving him far less experience than many of his contemporaries. Still, he was fantastic in limited time, notching 11.5 sacks while being named a first-team Big Ten member. If Watt can refine his game and learn some technical traits, he could prove to be a steal.
Look for Watt to learn under the guise of James Harrison, who has been a model of consistency for more than a decade.