Dear Jerry Jones: Your instincts are right this time. Go get JJ Watt. - The Dallas Morning News

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Dear Jerry Jones,

If I know you, this letter is a moot point. You’ve probably already called J.J. Watt. Heck, you probably sent the Pork Chopper to pick him up. Tell the pilot to be careful coming back. Houstonians aren’t too happy about losing a local icon, to say the least. Might look like the last helicopter out of Saigon.

Speaking of which, what’s up with the Texans? First they make Deshaun Watson so unhappy, he demands a trade. Then Watt asks for his release and gets it. One of the best defensive players in NFL history and a guy whose Hurricane Harvey relief fund rebuilt nearly 1,200 homes. Gone, just like that. A hurricane couldn’t drive Watt out of Houston, but Jack Easterby did.

This wouldn’t have happened under Bob McNair’s watch. But Easterby got a leg up as the Patriots’ character coach, and now he’s got Bob’s boy, Cal, under his spell. Seems like Easterby’s not building a football team so much as a cult.

Anyway, think of the possibilities, Jerry. Think what Watt could do for your pass rush! Think of the leadership he’d bring!

Think of the Cowboys jerseys you’d sell in Houston!

Consider this your opportunity to make amends for a grievous mistake. No, not for taking Tyron Smith instead of J.J. Watt in 2011.

For taking Taco Charlton instead of T.J. Watt in 2017.

Some NFL types are betting that J.J. ends up with the Steelers, who have collected two Watts. Big brother would like to play for a winner. No offense, Jerry, but it could hurt your chances. Just the same, he said in his farewell to Houston that he’d never even been to Texas before he was drafted, and now he loves it. Seemed like a hint, if you ask me.

Get him up here this weekend, and he’ll think he’s back home in Wisconsin.

Give him your A-plus tour of the Star, a facility that remains the envy of the rest of the league. Make sure he sees the Ring of Honor Walk and the Nike Star Walk and the five Lombardi Trophies.

Don’t let him check the dates, though.

Usher him into your swanky locker room and show him his new locker with his 99 hanging in it.

Tell him Antwaun Woods won’t need it anymore.

I know some at the Star may be telling you it’s not a good idea to sign a defensive end who will be 32 years old when the season starts and isn’t what he used to be. One of those people, in fact, talked to our Calvin Watkins.

“Jerry gets excited over these things,” the anonymous source said, “but don’t know anybody else in the building would.”

First thing you do, Jerry — right after you tell Stephen to stop talking to Calvin — is remind Stephen what you told him in the spring of 2014:

”Son, I hope you’re happy. But let me tell you something: You don’t get to own the Cowboys, you don’t get to do special things in life, by making major decisions going right down the middle. And that was right down the middle.”

Never mind that you said it after Stephen saved you from Johnny Manziel and you ended up with Zack Martin. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but your instincts would be right this time. You’re not gambling a first-round pick here. Only costs you cap space. I know some think paying Dak Prescott means you wouldn’t have any cap room available, but that’s only if you tag him again. The hit would come to $37 million for 2021. Give Dak what he wants, and you can spread his money around, making possible a short-term, incentive-laden deal for Watt.

Do that, Jerry, and I promise you’ll end up spending a lot of money on your new defensive end.

Sure, critics note that Watt’s five sacks and 17 quarterback hits last season were a far cry from 2012-15, when he averaged 17.3 sacks and 47.8 QB hits and was the best player in the league. Watt’s not what he once was mostly because he set the bar so outrageously high. Even now, he’s still better than most. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he ranked 15th out of 119 qualified pass-rushers in pass-rush win rate last season.

And the Texans didn’t have anyone nearly as good as DeMarcus Lawrence playing on the other end of their line. Think what Watt might do when paired up with Tank. Or vice versa.

Maybe it’s why Lawrence is already recruiting Watt on Twitter. Tank apparently thinks more of him than your staff does.

By the way: Remember when your staff talked you into letting DeMarcus Ware go back in 2014? Ware sure didn’t look like he was washed up playing opposite Von Miller. Made two more Pro Bowls, as I recall.

Even helped the Broncos win a Super Bowl.

Now, I’m not saying Watt will pilot your yacht to LA for the Super Bowl next year. He’s good, but he’s not Superman. You need a lot of help on defense. But you should be able to find a starting cornerback with the 10th pick and a defensive tackle for the rotation to shore up your run defense in the second.

Maybe you really go nuts and draft a safety in the second or third.

Bottom line is, signing Watt would give you one of the highest-quality people and players in the league. Hate to admit, I didn’t see it coming while watching TCU beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. Apparently I wasn’t the only one unimpressed. After the Texans took Watt with the 11th pick, someone asked their new defensive coordinator if he thought the new guy might end up a bust.

“A bust in the Hall of Fame,” Wade Phillips said.

Mr. Fixit was right about that. Pretty clever, too. I miss him. But that’s a letter for another day.

Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

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Dear Jerry Jones: Your instincts are right this time. Go get JJ Watt. - The Dallas Morning News
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