Former Steelers Defensive Tackle Signs with Giants
Giants defensive tackle Armon Watts is signing with New York’s’ active roster off its practice squad, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.
Watts, who played with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023, signed with the Giants practice squad on Oct. 15. Raanan reports that other teams were interested in potentially signing Watts off of New York’s practice squad.
With the Steelers playing the Giants on Monday Night Football this week, Watts could provide a little intel for New York, not that it would mean much in the grand scheme of things.
Watts signed with the New England Patriots in free agency to a deal worth up to $3 million, far exceeding what he made a year ago for Pittsburgh. Watts served as the Steelers’ go-to pass rusher off the bench last season.
His tenure didn’t last long in New England, however, as he was released on Aug. 27. Given his contract, Watts was somewhat of a surprise cut by the Patriots
“Pittsburgh showed some interest, but I feel like at the end of the day New England wanted me more. It’s a good organization,” https://twitter.com/RealAlexBarth/status/1778459489366118431?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1778459489366118431%7Ctwgr%5E05fa76745dd912c20af27f012a7a4f066b563aa2%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsteelersdepot.com%2F2024%2F04%2Fnew-england-wanted-me-more-armon-watts-explains-departure-from-steelers-in-free-agency%2F”>Watts
said in April.
Watts, a sixth-round pick out of Arkansas in 2019, spent the first three seasons of his career with the Minnesota Vikings. He would then head over to the Chicago Bears for the 2022 season. Watts was cut from the Vikings in August of 2022, but he was immediately scooped up by the Bears, where he started 12 games. In 2021, Watts posted a career-high five sacks. For his career, he has 125 tackles and 15 quarterback hits. He registered a career-high QB Hits in 2021.
The Steelers replaced Watts by signing veteran defensive lineman Dean Lowry in April.
Lowry, 29, is in his ninth NFL season, seven of which were played with the Green Bay Packers, who drafted him out of Northwestern in the 2016 NFL Draft. He maintained at least a co-starting role in Green Bay through 2022. He had his most impactful season in 2021, when he recorded five sacks in addition to 42 tackles and five tackles for loss. He also had four passes defended and a fumble recovery.
Lowry had a blocked field goal in the Steelers’ 37-15 win over the New York Jets on Sunday night.
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