With six weeks remaining in the NFL season we’re starting to get a clearer vision of who the player awards will go to. Defensive player of the year is a very tight race, though, with many players making a serious run at it. So who will win out? Here are the primary candidates:
J. J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
The two time NFL defensive player of the year (2012 and 2014) is back to leading the NFL in sacks with 11.5. The Texans are on a huge rebound, too, and in the mix to capture the AFC South title thanks to some very poor competition. Earlier in the season he started slow, got banged up and the Texans were losing almost every week so it seemed like back to back crowns may be unrealistic but he’s back with a vengeance. How he closes out these next six weeks will determine a lot.
Aaron Donald, DT, St. Louis Rams
It’s hard to believe he’s going to top his monster season of 2014. Donald already has 45 tackles and 7 sacks through 10 games (48 and 9 in 2014 through 16). You don’t get talked about as much as an interior defensive line player but he is absolutely dominating. Because there are always politics and name recognition involved in these sort of awards he will probably get overlooked but he’s as deserving as anyone. To be closing in on double digit sacks for the second consecutive season at his size is incredible. He’s an all purpose player with no holes in his game. Odds are you have no idea just how ridiculously good this guy is.
Chandler Jones, DE, New England Patriots
He already has 10.5 sacks so he’s very likely to eclipse his career high on 11.5. While Brady and Gronk get all the recognition for the undefeated season in New England, he’s also been hugely responsible for it.
Tyrann Mathieu, CB/S, Arizona Cardinals
The Honey Badger was a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate but I don’t think anyone expected him to be this good in the NFL, particularly after both his personal problems and his torn ACL injury. He’s been that good, though. He’s had a nose for the football, the end zone, he’s a sure tackler and pound for pound one of the best players in football. He’s having a fantastic season and arguably the best player on the Cardinals defense.
Josh Norman, CB, Carolina Panthers
He’s tied for 4th in the NFL with 4 interceptions. He’s come out of nowhere to get into the elite conversation along with Revis, Sherman and Peterson. The Panthers’ used to be a terrifying front 7 with an exposed secondary but not anymore. Norman has changed that. Result? An undefeated season so far.
Charles Woodson, S, Oakland Raiders
After all these years he’s tied for the NFL lead in interceptions at 5. And with the Raiders in the mix for a potential wild card spot if they go on a good run to end the season, he may get consideration. Everyone loves a fairy tale story like this where a much respected 39 year old first ballot Hall of Famer dips into the fountain of youth to have one of the best seasons of his career. He’ll probably need a few more picks over the next six games combined with the Raiders getting into the postseason to have a real shot.
Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina Panthers
There’s no question he’s one of the top if not the top defensive player in the game. Unfortunately, missing 3 games due to a concussion may very well cost him a shot at DPOY. That said, there’s six games to go and the Panthers have a shot at going 16-0. If that happens and he continues to dominate, he has a chance. He’s 33rd in the NFL in tackles currently despite playing in only 7 of 10 games so he will continue to climb up that list quickly. Don’t rule him out.
So who is the favorite out of this race? It looks to be Watt because he leads the league in sacks (the sexiest stat), he’s already got the league wide respect and name recognition, and the Texans are bouncing back in a big way to possibly make the playoffs. The gap isn’t as wide as you’d think, though. These other players listed are absolutely in the mix and depending on how the season finishes they could easily win the award.
