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Defensive Player of the Year – Jamie Collins
So far this season has been all about the pass-rushers. Whether that may be former top draft picks, guys emerging after a few years in the league or perennial All-Pros. As disappointing as Cleveland’s 2-5 start has been, Myles Garrett has been a game-wrecker for them. He is tied for the lead-league with ten sacks and eleven tackles for loss, while also forcing a couple of fumbles. Deadlocked with him for the top spots in QB takedowns in Tampa Bay’s Shaquil Barrett, who has been a revelation is his sixth year as a pro.
After being more of a rotational piece on the edge for a Broncos defense that has always had first-rounders starting, he has easily been the Bucs best defensive player, forcing four fumbles, getting involved against the run (nine TFLs) and even smartly intercepting a screen pass. And then you could argue for both Khalil Mack or Aaron Donald, who might not be quite up to par with those other guys in terms of their numbers, but have taken over games despite being double-teamed and putting constant heat on opposing passers. With that being said, I went with the best player on the league’s best defense.
This Patriots defense is so good that you could go with Devin McCourty or Stephon Gilmore her as well, since the safety leads the league in interceptions and the Gilmore has been the league’s premiere shutdown corner. However, nobody has filled the stat sheet quite like Jamie Collins – 44 total tackles, seven of them for loss, six sacks, three interceptions, seven PBUs and two forced fumbles.
Of course, he is one of the guys who has already scored a touchdown for them on that side of the ball as well. While maybe having faced a rather soft schedule so far, the Pats D easily is first in points allowed per game (7.6) third-down percentage (15.6 percent), total takeaways (25) and touchdowns scored themselves (six). With some tougher competition down the road, those numbers will probably get back to normal a little bit more and Collins’s totals may not look as favorable compared to some of the elite pass-rushers, but as of this moment, I think both the entire unit as well as their star linebacker deserve the recognition. Collins has been even better in his second stint with New England.
The next three: Myles Garrett, Shaquil Barrett and Khalil Mack
