In just a few days, the NFL will announce the official Defensive Player of the Year at NFL Honors. Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt might not win but he will be in the mix without a doubt. But according to NFL fans, at least those who vote in the Fox NFL poll, Watt was the best defender in the league when they voted him their Defensive Player of the Year.
The reality is, Watt is going to have his work cut out for him. For whatever reason, the media seems to be infatuated with the play of New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore even though by the numbers, Steelers cornerback Steven Nelson had a better season.
Among edge rushers, it wouldn’t be a stretch to see a guy like Tampa Bay’s Shaq Barrett edge Watt out. But as a fan, and having every snap of Watt’s season, it is hard to watch the season he put together and imagine any player had the impact week after week that Watt did.
