J.J. Watt Is a Young Michael Strahan, and That Is the Ultimate Compliment

The best thing anyone can say about a young defensive lineman is to call that player a young Michael Strahan. That is J.J. Watt.

When I see Watt, it's like going back in time, when a young Strahan entered the NFL and I was covering the New York Giants beat for the New York Times. We can debate and rank and argue about which defensive linemen in history are the best—and I certainly popped off on Twitter about it—but Strahan was easily one of the best packages of athleticism, speed and smarts of any player I've ever been around.

I look at Watt and I see Strahan. The intensity, the aggression, the fighting on every play, no matter how far they might be behind in the game or how terrible the team he's on is. I get that they are playing different techniques and in different eras, but I see Watt and I see Strahan—two brilliant pros.

Am I crazy? I asked Strahan.

"What I love is he has desire to excel in every facet of the game," Strahan told me. Strahan, recently inducted into the Hall of Fame, was flying back from doing his show on Fox to New York for Live with Kelly and Michael.

"He plays run like a champ and can line up and rush the passer unlike anyone else on the field," Strahan said. "He plays as if it's an insult if the opponent only blocks him with one person. He plays with max effort every play and never leaves the field after the game with any regrets."

The season Watt is having now is reminiscent of the beginning of Strahan's 2001 campaign, where he had 73 tackles, a record 22.5 sacks and six forced fumbles. Strahan had an MVP-caliber season.

David Duprey/Associated Press

Right now, Watt is having that type of season. I can't think of a player in the NFL right now existing on a higher plane than Watt. Not a quarterback. Not a receiver. No player.

Right now, Watt is the league's MVP. He probably wouldn't win the MVP even if he finished the season with one kabillion sacks because the voting is horribly skewed towards offense. The last defensive player to win it was Lawrence Taylor almost three decades ago. The last defensive lineman to win it was Alan Page in 1971.

"I feel he makes all these incredible plays not because he's the most physically gifted lineman in the league but because he plays every play at a pace that puts him in the right place to make the spectacular play," Strahan said. "You can tell that it's not about anything but being the best, and most of all being respected."

Strahan was respected and feared. I see the same with Watt. It's easy to understand why. Watt had an 80-yard interception return for a score Sunday where he looked like a running back. Since some people believe football only began in 2012, Strahan also had an interception returned for a score. Not 80 yards, but it won the game for the Giants in overtime. He had another interception return for a score the previous season. Strahan was as good an athlete as ever played the position. So far, Watt is showing the same.

According to the NFL, Watt is the first player in history with at least 35 sacks, an interception-return touchdown and a receiving touchdown in his first four seasons.

"I played for respect and nothing else, but when you play with that type of attitude all the other things just happen to come with it," Strahan said. "He has earned my respect, and to call him a young Michael Strahan is an honor for me, but even that may not be giving him the proper amount of credit he deserves."

The honor goes both ways. Strahan was one of the best I ever saw not just because he was talented, but because he cared more than just about anyone else. Watt is the same, because he's a young Strahan.

Mike Freeman covers the NFL for Bleacher Report.