Who Is The Best Defensive Player In The Nfl?
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Who is the best defensive player in the NFL? This is a question that many fans and pundits have been debating for years. Some say it is J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans, while others believe it is Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams.
J.J. Watt
His stats
Watt is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, winning the award in 2012, 2014, and 2015. He is also a five-time Pro Bowl selection and a four-time First-team All-Pro. In 2014, Watt became the first defensive player in NFL history to record two 20+ sack seasons in a career. He holds the Texans’ franchise records for career sacks (76.5) and forced fumbles (16).
His accolades
Watt has been named to the NFL All-Pro First Team five times, including four consecutive seasons from 2012 to 2015. He was also named the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times, in 2012, 2014 and 2015. In his first five seasons, he accumulated more defensive touchdown receptions than any other player in NFL history. He has also led the league in sacks twice, in 2012 and 2015. Watt is currently ranked fourth all-time in sacks, behind only Bruce Smith, Reggie White and Kevin Greene.
Aaron Donald
Aaron Donald is the best defensive player in the NFL. Donald is a defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Rams in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at Pitt, where he was a two-time consensus All-American.
His stats
In his six NFL seasons, Donald has been named a first-team All-Pro five times and a Pro Bowler six times. He was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2014 and has twice been named the Defensive Player of the Year (in 2017 and 2018). In 2019, he was named the 99th best player in the NFL by his peers on the NFL Top 100 list.
Donald is widely considered to be one of the best defensive players in NFL history. He has led the league in sacks twice (in 2015 and 2018) and is the only defensive player to do so since sacks became an official stat in 1982. He is also the only player in NFL history to have more than 20 sacks in a season (he had 20.5 in 2018).
His accolades
Since being drafted by the Rams in 2014, Donald has been one of the most dominant defensive players in the NFL. He’s a six-time Pro Bowler, five-time first-team All-Pro, and two-time Defensive Player of the Year. In 2018, he had 20.5 sacks and 25 tackles for loss, both of which led the league. He’s also forced 11 fumbles and recovered six in his career.
Luke Kuechly
linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Panthers in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He played college football at Boston College, where he was a three-time All-American. Kuechly was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2012
His stats
In 2013, Kuechly became the youngest winner of the Butkus Award, given to America’s best linebacker. He was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year and AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He was only the second Panther to ever receive either honor, after Julius Peppers in 2006.
Kuechly led the NFL in tackles for a second straight season with 164 tackles in 2013. His 164 tackles were 31 more than any other player and marked the fourth time in five seasons that he led the league in tackles.
His accolades
Some of his accolades include being named the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 and 2012, being named to the All-Pro team in 2013 and 2012, and being named the NFC Defensive Player of the Year in 2012. He has also been selected to play in the Pro Bowl four times.
Bobby Wagner
In my opinion, Bobby Wagner is the best defensive player in the NFL. He is an incredible linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks, and has been since he was drafted in 2012. He is a four-time Pro Bowler, and a three-time first-team All-Pro. He has also won a Super Bowl.
His stats
In his seven NFL seasons, all with the Seahawks, Wagner has been selected for the Pro Bowl five times and been named first-team All-Pro three times. He has led the league in tackles twice.
His accolades
In his seven NFL seasons, all with the Seahawks, Wagner has been selected for the Pro Bowl five times (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018), and has been named a first-team All-Pro four times (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018). He is a two-time recipient of the Butkus Award (2016, 2017), which is given annually to the best linebacker in college football.
Von Miller
Von Miller is an American football outside linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas A&M, where he earned All-American honors. He was drafted by the Broncos second overall in the 2011 NFL Draft. In 2016, he was named Super Bowl MVP after the Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.
His stats
In his eight NFL seasons, Miller has been one of the most consistent and dangerous edge rushers in the league, amassing 96.5 sacks, enforced 230 hurries, 25 hits and 41.5 knockdowns in 109 games played (106 starts). He has led the NFL in sacks twice, first with 18.5 in 2012 and again with 19.5 in 2014. In 2015, Miller was ranked the second best edge rusher in the NFL by PFF after posting a 94.6 grade. He finished the season with 11 sacks while adding an interception, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.(1)
His accolades
Von Miller is an American football outside linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Broncos second overall in the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas A&M, where he earned consensus All-American honors and was awarded the Butkus Award as the most outstanding collegiate linebacker in the nation.
Miller has been selected to five Pro Bowls, and was named the Super Bowl MVP after leading his team to a victory in Super Bowl 50. He is ranked by his fellow NFL players as the sixth-best player in the league, according to the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017. In 2016, he became only the second defensive player ever to receive $114 million in guaranteed money from an NFL team.
