With four games remaining, Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt is the clear front-runner for NFL Defensive Player of the Year with -190 odds, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain and Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney are tied for the second-best odds at +1400. Houston Texans edge rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. follow at +2000 and Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett rounds out the top 6 at +2200.
Watt had a huge strip sack on Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow in the Steelers’ 44-38 win in Week 13. It was his fifth forced fumble on the year, which is a league-high. Out of Watt’s five forced fumbles, three were strip sacks. He also tied James Harrison for second place in franchise history with 32 strip sacks. Greg Lloyd has the record with 33.
In addition to his five forced fumbles, Watt enters Week 15 with 47 tackles (33 solos), 9.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, 25 quarterback hits and two fumble recoveries.
If Watt wins another DPOY award, he’ll join Steelers legend Joe Greene as the only players in franchise history to win the prestigious award twice.
The one thing missing from Watt’s accolades is a Super Bowl title or even playoff success. He’s never won a playoff game in his career. That’s something he wants to change. He doesn’t want be known for just his long list of individual accomplishments.
“I don’t want my legacy to say that ‘T.J. Watt (accomplished) all these individual things but what happened in the big moments?’” Watt said this past offseason. “That’s what we’re trying to get better (at), and I’m willing to do everything I possibly can and hopefully everybody in the locker room is on the same page.”