Andre Johnson devoted 12 strong seasons to the NFL franchise on Kirby Drive and retired as the greatest Texan. But he did not walk away from pro football in a local red-and-blue uniform, and spent his final two years as a Colt, then a Titan.

Duane Brown spent nine-plus seasons as a Texan, turning into an offensive anchor at left tackle after being selected by Houston's NFL team with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2008 draft. But because of several reasons, it didn't end well for Brown on Kirby, and he's spent the majority of the past three seasons protecting Russell Wilson in Seattle.

DeAndre Hopkins was a steal as the No. 27 overall selection in 2013. Not that long ago, the three-time All-Pro declared that he hoped to spend his entire NFL career with the Texans. Now, Hopkins is set to catch passes from 2019 No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray in Arizona, whenever the NFL is allowed to play football again.

It felt like Johnathan Joseph played for the Texans forever. But his impressive NFL career began in Cincinnati and, like Hopkins, J-Joe is no longer a Texan.

Arian Foster eventually became a Dolphin.

Kareem Jackson became a Bronco.

And during an offseason when a 42-year-old Tom Brady suddenly became a Buccaneer and a 38-year-old Philip Rivers oddly became a Colt, I’ve spent the past couple weeks (OK, years) contemplating the Kirby Drive longevity of famous No. 99.

Maybe J.J. Watt will become the first big-name, lifetime Texan.

Get drafted in the first round by Houston’s NFL team.

Get better and better and better, earning five All-Pro selections, three Defensive Player of the Year awards and an NFL All-Decade team honor.

Settle in, mature, adapt and keep evolving, outlasting all the annual change.

Then retire as a Texan, only playing for one NFL team before ultimately entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

That last part was a given as soon as Watt collected his third DPOY trophy.

But Watt is 31 now. He's the highest-paid Texan, set to make $15.5 million this season, despite only playing eight regular-season games last year. And since 2015, when the once-booed No. 11 overall pick won his last DPOY award, Watt has only played in the full 16 games once and has only totaled 16 contests in three other combined seasons.

Oh, yeah. After the 2021 season, Watt’s monster contract with the only NFL team he’s ever played for is set to expire.

With 99 percent of the league, it would be a no-brainer.

There would be rumors and rumors. The “aging” veteran would become a cold salary-cap casualty. And then the wheel would really start spinning, with the famous name bouncing from team to team, while the cutthroat NFL kept rolling along.

It’s called Not For Long for a reason, right?

But this is Watt. And this is the Texans.

And no one will be surprised if both sides eventually find an intelligent way to extend Watt’s career in Houston, keeping a future Hall of Famer in red and blue, and presenting the Texans with increased financial flexibility.

Also, no one will be surprised if Watt eventually changes jobs and takes his talents to Hollywood. Or becomes the mayor of the fourth-largest city in America.

The obvious point: A franchise/career decision is lurking for No. 99.

Looming? No.

But remember how the Texans handled Johnson and Hopkins at the end. Know that they still must hand Deshaun Watson and Laremy Tunsil huge, lengthy paydays. Then remember that Watt will be 32 entering the 2021 season, when he's set to make a career-high $17.5 million (in what could be his final year in Houston).

It’s … interesting. To say the least.

Smart, Patriots-like franchises stay ahead of the curve.

Watt has the rest of his life ahead of him.

Is there a respectful, rewarding compromise within the middle of all that?

Or maybe Watt simply returns to form at 31, reverting back to his 2018 All-Pro self.

A couple years ago, Twitter loved to swear that the Texans should trade Watt. Five years ago, the thought of Watt playing a game in another uniform was unthinkable.

He’s battled back from career-changing injuries. He’s already lived a life that will probably end up as a made-for-TV movie and is still one of the biggest names in the league, even though he’s only made one Pro Bowl team since 2016.

The Texans are a couple years away from their 20th anniversary.

Will a healthy, must-see Watt still be dominating the line for Houston’s NFL team in 2022?

If there’s one thing that unifies Johnson, Brown, Hopkins, Brady and Rivers, it’s the fact that huge career, life and team decisions are often quietly being evaluated a couple years away from the official date they’re finally made.

But this is also Watt and the Texans.

Maybe with them, it’ll end different.