Donald, Gilmore Co-Favorites To Win Defensive Player Of The Year Award

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald has won the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons and many people thought he’d become the first-ever player to win this award three years in a row. He was actually favored on the DPOY odds at the beginning of the year.

However, as the year has progressed, New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore and a couple of Pittsburgh Steelers have made strong cases. Donald is still favored, although he’s tied at the top of board with Gilmore. Can he make history or will he finally let someone else win the award?

AARON DONALD, LOS ANGELES RAMS
ODDS: +400

Donald had a slow start the year but he’s been absolute monster of late. He has at least one sack in seven of his last eight games while totaling 10 since Week 6. He had just one sack in his first five games.

When you take a look at his overall resume, he’ll be hard to beat. While he’s seventh in sacks (11.0), he leads the league in tackles for a loss with 18, is tied for the most hurries (28) with Khalil Mack, is second in quarterback pressures (49) and is eighth in quarterback hits (22). Those numbers will be quite challenging to overcome for the other contestants.

STEPHON GILMORE, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
ODDS: +400

The Patriots might not get the No. 1 seed in the AFC, due to the stellar play of the Baltimore Ravens, but they probably have the best defense in the AFC. The best defensive player on the best defense in the AFC has been Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore. His ability to lock down one half of the field has freed up his 10 New England teammates to tend to their assignments. Gilmore’s ability to thrive without needing help is a huge reason the Patriots are still in position to get a first-round bye in the playoffs and make the AFC Championship Game for what would be a ninth straight season.

The challenge for Gilmore – in terms of this prop – is he doesn’t have a ton of stats to show his dominance. He has 34 tackles, four interceptions and 14 passes defensed. Donald probably beats him out unless the votes look at analytics.

T.J. WATT, PITTSBURGH STEELERS
ODDS: +600

The Pittsburgh Steelers were 1-4 at one point in the season. Now they are in the heart of the AFC playoff picture, a remarkable turnaround for a team which hasn’t even had Ben Roethlisberger since Week 2. The Steelers have rallied with Mason Rudolph and then Devlin Hodges at quarterback. It is one of the most special stories in the league, and it’s why T.J. Watt has a real shot at this award. If the Steelers beat the Bills, their playoff odds will go up considerably. If the Steelers do in fact make the playoffs, and the New England Patriots (with Stephon Gilmore) lose one of their remaining games, a strong case can be made for Watt as the NFL’s Defensive Player Of The Year as voted on by the Associated Press.

Watt deserves a lot of credit as he’s compiled 26 tackles, 12.5 sacks (fourth-best), five forced fumbles, two interceptions and he leads the league in quarterback pressures.

MINKAH FITZPATRICK, PITTSBURGH STEELERS
ODDS: +700

The Steelers’ rise will elevate Watt, but it will also elevate teammate Minkah Fitzpatrick. When looking at the Steelers’ complete turnaround this season, it can very easily be argued that Fitzpatrick’s arrival from the Miami Dolphins in a much-questioned trade by Miami. It gave the Steelers an elite back-line defender who relieved burdens from the 10 other players on the Steelers’ defense. Much of the Steelers success on defense can be traced back to Fitzpatrick and that puts him in the running.

On the year, he has 37 tackles, nine passes defensed, five interceptions, a pair of forced fumbles and a touchdown.

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