There is no denying that Los Angeles Rams and Pitt alum Aaron Donald is one of the best players in the NFL and is a top candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, but no this year.
Pro Football Focus thinks that Donald should be named DPOY for a third time, but they’re forgetting about one person, T.J. Watt.
Watt leads the league in three separate categories, sacks (15), tackles for loss (23) and quarterback hits (41).
While Donald’s stats are nothing to sneeze at, 13.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and 27 QB hits, as Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said, Watt is “visiting from another planet.”
Pro Football focus points out that Donald’s presence on the field warrants opponents to double and sometimes triple team Donald, with the main reason PFF claiming he should be DPOY is because he can affect every play.
But the same can also be said about Watt. For too long, the younger Watt has had to look at this brother J.J.’s three Defensive Player of the Year awards every time they have a video chat, it’s time T.J. has one J.J. can see as well.
The last Steelers player to receive DPOY honors was Troy Polamalu in 2010