Top Three Potential Defensive Player of the Year Candidates
Entering week 13 of the NFL, we are nearly three-quarters of the way through this year's season. As we approach the end of the year, multiple players have stood out amongst the crowd as some of the league's best defenders. Below are my three potential candidates for this year's NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.
- Daron Bland, CB, Dallas Cowboys
At the start of the season Bland may not have been a household name, but after his 2023 campaign Daron deserves that recognition. Trevon Diggs' injury caused a void in the corner position, but Bland has done an outstanding job in his place. Bland has seven interceptions this season for the league lead, but the most impressive part is what he's doing with the ball in his hands. Bland has taken five interceptions to the house for a touchdown, breaking the all-time record for pick-sixes in a season. Dallas's defense would not be as dominant as it has been without him. Expect his stellar season to continue and for them to mention his name come award time.
- Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland's defense has been tremendous this season, and no player has had a more significant impact on its success than Myles Garrett. Garrett has been a force since he entered the league in 2017. This season, he leads the NFL in sacks with 13 and is tied for fourth in Tackles for Loss with 11. With 23 additional Quarterback hits to go along with those numbers, Garrett has again asserted himself as one of the league's most dominant pass rushers.
- Micah Parsons, DE, Dallas Cowboys
The second Cowboy on this list, Parsons, like Garrett, is the driving force for his defense. Micah has registered ten sacks on the season, putting him seventh, along with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. His seven QB hurries and 27 QB hits are further testament to how great Parsons has been this year. The third year pass-rusher has been dominant since he entered the NFL; this season, he has been nothing short of it.