Myles Garrett won the AP NFL DPOY award unanimously in 2025, ripping off 23 sacks to break the single-season record. That was his second DPOY, putting him in elite company, and he was absolutely gunning for his third, which would have put him right up there with legends like Lawrence Taylor, J.J. Watt, and Aaron Donald. He opened 2026 as the favorite to repeat that historic run, but a knee injury has sidelined the reigning Defensive Player of the Year for now, blowing the race wide open for 2026.
Anderson Is Making His Move For The Crown
But while Garrett is on the mend, one player is making a huge push for that DPOY crown: Will Anderson Jr. The dude is absolutely tearing it up for a Houston defense that was best in the league last year. Through seven games in 2026, Anderson already has 33 total tackles, 17 solo, 7.5 sacks, and 10 tackles for loss. Since Garrett went down, Anderson has been the favorite in this spot, with his odds moving to +230 from +170 over the last two weeks. Houston fans have to be hyped watching this guy dominate every Sunday.
The Pack Is Chasing Hard
And don’t sleep on the other beasts trying to snag this award. T.J. Watt, the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year, had an electric start to the season. He dropped 2 sacks, 4 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 2 QB hits in Week 1. He followed that up with 1.5 sacks, another tackle for loss, and two more QB hits in Week 2. His odds jumped from +1100 to +550. They dipped after a quiet Week 3 where he assisted on one tackle, but now they’re back up to +700 after he piled up six total tackles and three sacks over his last three games.
Then there’s Fred Warner, a four time Pro Bowler, who has racked up 72 total tackles, 33 solo, this season. His Week 3 game against Arizona was insane, with 17 total tackles and seven solo. Simmons, after getting acquired by Chicago from Tennessee, has been lights out too. He’s got 44 total tackles, 23 solo, five sacks, and 6.5 stuffs after eight weeks. And let’s not forget Aidan Hutchinson on the 5-2 Lions, who has five sacks, 13 solo tackles, eight assisted, and five tackles for loss.
The DPOY race is officially on fire, with Myles Garrett’s injury throwing a wrench in everything. Will Anderson Jr. is the clear favorite right now, but with guys like Watt, Warner, Simmons, and Hutchinson grinding every single week, this is far from over. Get ready, because these defensive monsters are only now hitting their stride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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