Will Anderson Jr. is having an incredible rookie season.
Despite missing two games this season, he ranks second among rookies with seven sacks on the year – a Houston Texans franchise record – and first with 22 quarterback hits. Anderson is also tied with Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt for the third-best pass-rush win rate this season behind only the Dallas Cowboys’ Micah Parsons and the Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett.
Anderson has proven to be one of the best defensive rookies this year, but that doesn’t mean he’s a lock to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. Several other first-year players are fighting for the award, and some of them could add to their candidacy in the final week of the regular season.
Here are five players who could beat Anderson for DPOY.
Eagles DT Jalen Carter
Carter is already one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. He ranks sixth among interior defensive linemen in pass-rush win rate and tallied six sacks and nine quarterback hits this season. Carter is a disruptor in the middle of the trenches and is the current BetMGM odds-on favorite to win.
Rams DT Kobie Turner
Turner, a third-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams out of Wake Forest, leads all rookies with nine sacks and ranks third with 15 quarterback hits. He’s accomplished all of this in just 62 percent of the Rams’ defensive snaps, too. While he’s not as a big a name as Anderson or Carter, Turner is arguably having a better season than both of them.
Lions DB Brian Branch
Branch ranks second among all rookie defensive backs with four interceptions and third in passes defended. He’s already proven himself to be one of the best young safeties in the NFL after allowing just 6.6 yards per target.
Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon
Witherspoon looks like the best cornerback from this rookie class. While he’s only intercepted one pass this season, Witherspoon leads all rookies with 16 pass breakups and the third-lowest completion percentage among rookie defensive backs with that least 50 targets. The biggest issue for Witherspoon is missed tackles, which he has 12 of, and the five touchdowns he’s allowed.
DB Joey Porter Jr.
Quarterbacks who throw Porter Jr.’s way completed fewer than 50 percent of their attempts – which is the lowest mark among rookie defensive backs with at least 50 targets against them and the fourth-fewest among all defensive backs with at least 50 targets. Porter Jr. is steadfast in coverage, but only has one interception on the season, 10 pass breakups and 43 combined tackles.
