Aaron Donald has been one of the best defensive players in football since he came into the NFL in 2014. Right out of the gate, he was named Defensive Rookie of the Year in his first season, and since then, he’s been a first-team All-Pro selection five times and won Defensive Player of the Year twice.
He has a chance to become the first player ever to win that award three years in a row, having won it in each of the last two seasons. The combination of stiff competition, voter fatigue and a lack of eye-popping numbers will make it hard for Donald to claim Defensive Player of the Year again, though.
Even he admits he doesn’t think he’ll win the award and hear his name called on Saturday night at the NFL Honors show.
“No, not this year,” Donald said in a phone interview with Rams Wire on Friday, courtesy of Pizza Hut.
So who will win it? He thinks it’ll come down to T.J. Watt of the Steelers and Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
“I feel like it’s going to be between T.J. Watt and Gilmore,” Donald said. “Probably Gilmore because those guys made it to the playoffs. He had a real good season, so it’ll be out of those two guys.”
Both Watt and Gilmore had outstanding seasons for their respective teams, and they played on two of the best defenses in football. Watt had 14.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, two interceptions and 36 QB hits, all of which were more than Donald.
Gilmore is obviously difficult to compare to Donald, being a cornerback. But he led the NFL with six interceptions and 20 passes defensed with two pick-sixes. He also had 53 tackles and two fumble recoveries.
Though Donald is expecting not to win the award, his focus isn’t on individual success. He doesn’t worry about individual accolades like Pro Bowls and post-season honors. He just wants to win.
“I just play ball. I really don’t worry about all that. I just go out there and try to make as many plays as I can and win,” Donald said. “That’s what it’s about, winning games. When you try to think about trying to win awards and things like that, you tend not to have the success you want to have. I really don’t think about it, I just play and try to do my part.”
