What Will Happen if the Houston Texans Do Not Sign J.J. Watt to an Extension?

Everyone knew the day was coming. At some point in time one of the fiercest defensive players in the NFL was going to say it. He's outplayed his current contract and it is time for an extension. No one in their right mind could argue that he doesn't deserve it either.

Houston Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt is an absolute beast--but what if the team said no?

via Bleacher Report

Fans will fondly remember the last time the Texans had a defensive lineman wanting to get paid what he was worth--former No. 1 pick Mario Williams.

Now at the time the team didn't have the room under the cap to give Williams what he was worth and other teams did, hence the big man going to Buffalo. Williams had missed time because of injuries and the defense didn't miss a beat so it wasn't as hard to let him go.

Such is not the case this time around. Watt is the cornerstone of the defense; the kind of guy that opposing offenses have to game plan for because he's so disruptive. With him, Jadeveon Clowney, and eventually Louis Nix III (when he gets up to speed) the Texans look to have the best defensive line for years to come.

That is, if they pay him.

There is no reason to think that the Texans are not going to, but for argument's sake what would happen if they don't? From a game perspective, the whole defense will suffer. Game planning for him and Clowney is going to cause offensive coordinators fits. Game planning for just Clowney will be tough, but not impossible.

With the line not as strong as it could be more will be expected from the linebackers and since less pressure will be put on the quarterback the secondary will have to step it up too.

So if they don't sign him the game is a little tougher, but that's not the worst of it. If the Texans let J.J. Watt walk a mutiny may rise up from the fan base. If you thought the Gary Kubiak hate was bad the last couple years just imagine what fans will do to Bob McNair if he lets someone as popular as Watt leave town.

Ant-McNair websites? Yep. Image burned in effigy? Yep. Chants during games? Absolutely--and so much more.

But it can't happen--right? There is no way that McNair is going to let Watt walk. Than again, we are talking about a guy that doesn't see the need for anything more than an average quarterback:

Bob McNair : "We don't need superstar QBs. We need average, adequate QBs to win games". And that's why Houston will never get to the SB.
— BlackRX (@KRBlackRX) August 17, 2014

Nervous yet?

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