With the NFL playoffs continuing to roll on, there are many people who are marveling at the countless quarterbacks who have led their teams to success thus far. At the same time, there are plenty of people who play on the other side of the ball as well. For example, many of the best cornerbacks of all time have built a career out of frustrating quarterbacks. Who are some of the top NFL defensive players this year? Who might take home the award? There are a few names that immediately rise to the top of the list.
1. Aaron Donald
Any list of the best defensive players in the NFL has to start with Aaron Donald. He is an interior lineman for the Los Angeles Rams, and he is an absolute force on the defense. Most of the sacks in the NFL come from defensive ends who come around the edges. It makes what Aaron Donald does that much more impressive. Not only does he rack up a bunch of sacks every year, but he also is a significant force against the run. It would be no surprise if he took home the award for the greatest defensive player this year. He has done so in the past.
2. T.J. Watt
Because of how important quarterbacks have become, individuals who can stop quarterbacks have only become more important. That is exactly what TJ Watt does. He is a defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he could break the record set by Michael Strahan for the most sacks in a single season. He only seems to get better and better, and he has good genetics. He is the brother of JJ Watt, a defensive lineman for the Arizona Cardinals, and a previous Defensive Player of the Year himself. Time will tell just how much the voters value the tremendous number of sacks that TJ Watt has racked up this year.
3. Trevon Diggs
If there is a young defensive player who has distinguished himself this year, it is certainly Trevon Diggs. He is a cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys, and he has a double-digit number of interceptions. The sheer number of turnovers he has generated this year might be enough to win him the defensive player of the year on his own. Unfortunately, he has also allowed a number of big completions, which detract from the number of interceptions he has generated this year. Regardless, he is going to be one of the biggest secondary forces in the NFL to contend with for the foreseeable future.
4. Myles Garrett
Myles Garrett is an unbelievable defensive end for the Cleveland Browns. Even though he certainly tarnished his reputation by hitting Mason Rudolph with his own helmet a couple of years ago, there is no denying his unbelievable talent. He continues to rack up incredible sack numbers, and he did so once again this year. He is in line for a significant payday, and he is going to be one of the top defensive forces in the NFL for years to come.
The Future of the NFL
Given the major changes the NFL has made to its rules during the past few years, it has become difficult for defenders to do what they love. Now, the game is all about scoring points, but it is important not to overlook the impression many of these defensive players have left on the game. It will be exciting to watch the NFL playoffs continue to roll on, and it will be interesting to see who takes home the award for the best defensive player in the NFL this year.