Top 10 DEFENSIVE Rookie of the Year Candidates for 21'

Yesterday we talked about the top 10 offensive rookie of the year candidates going into this season, now we turn our focus to the defensive side of the ball. While the top QBs are usually the heavy favorites for OROY, defensive ROY is always a toss up to predict, especially this year. In a weak defensive class, there is no clear cut favorite. Here we go.

10. Jamin Davis, LB, Washington Football Team (From Kentucky)

The Football Team shocked a lot of people when they opted to draft the Kentucky product Davis at LB over an offensive lineman or even a weapon for the offense. Instead they grabbed Davis who was one of the biggest pre-draft risers in the class. Davis brings a nice skillset to the Washington defense. A team that didn't really have that guy at LB now does. Davis reminds me a ton of former DROY winner Darius Leonard on the Colts. He is a tackle machine and pretty good in coverage. Davis is going to be a stat sheet stuffer year 1 and for someone at the bottom of this list, I still really like his chances of being a top defensive rookie this season.

9. Caleb Farley, CB, Titans (From Virginia Tech)

Possibly the steal of the draft, Caleb Farley walks into Tennessee already as the team's potential CB1. In the early stages of the off-season, many had Farley ranked as the best CB in the draft and maybe even the best pure defensive player in the draft. After a back surgery however, teams were worried and his draft stock took a major hit. Still, Farley is the same talent as he was before the surgery and could have a monster rookie year if he can stay healthy. The last time we saw him on the field, he was developing into a major ball hawk and was a pass breakup machine. The Titans might have gotten their CB1 for the next 8 years in Farley. Again, if he stays healthy, he will have a major shot at winning DROY.

8. Odafe "Jayson" Oweh, EDGE, Ravens (From Penn State)

Odafe Oweh is one of the most polarizing prospects from this class. With exceptional first round talent, Oweh did not really show it off as much as you would have liked during his time at Penn State. He had 0 sacks in his most recent season but that shouldn't scare you away from him. At a massive 6'5, 260 pounds, Oweh might be one of the fastest rushers we've seen in awhile. He tested really well and has shown his athleticism is off the charts. The Ravens are one of the best teams in football at drafting and then developing edge talent so a player as talented as Oweh should have no problem becoming a beast in the system. Possibly the most athletic defender in this draft, if Baltimore can develop him quickly, he may be the future DROY.

7. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Browns (From Notre Dame)

You know the Browns got a steal if the 7th ranked player on this list was a late second round pick. JOK might be the most versatile LB from this draft class. He can play all over the defense from the box to even off the edge. The Browns are stacked with talent defensively so having JOK added to the mix is just a luxury. They will find really creative ways to deploy him throughout the game. He is going to be a major wildcard added to the Browns D and for that, I could see him having monster stats his rookie year. He can do a lot of everything and that bodes well for his chances to win DROY.

6. Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Bills (From Miami)

At 6'7, 260, Rousseau is one of those physical specimen players that teams marvel at every year. The Bills got very lucky he was there for them at the end of the first round and wasted no time making the call to select him. When we last saw Rousseau a year ago, he was coming off one of the best edge rusher seasons I've seen at the college level. He had over 15 sacks and was dominant in the run game. He opted out of this past year due to COVID and that really made his draft stock take a hit. However, he comes into one of the best systems in the league and will be an asset the Bills will be sure to take advantage of. He has the physical traits to dominate in the NFL but is still raw as a player. I expect the Bills to be able to coach him up well and I wouldn't rule out the chances of him returning to the dominant force he was in 2019 at Miami. If Rousseau eclipses 10 sacks as a rookie, his chances to win the award will be huge.

5. Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Chargers (From FSU)

Samuel ranked this high on the list may come as a surprise to many, but I think he is super underrated and for that reason this is a fair ranking in my opinion. Samuel Jr. may be a bit undersized and not have as much hype as his father Asante Samuel (Sr.) did during his days in the NFL, but that doesn't mean Jr. won't have as productive of a career. He comes into an amazing system lead by wonderkid defensive minded coach Brandon Staley. Staley will be able to turn Samuel into an even better CB than he already is. Samuel also enters a weak CB room and will have the chance to win the CB1 job right away. Samuel's sheer talent despite his small size coupled with the opportunity to be the team's CB1 right away makes me believe he has a huge shot at winning DROY and going down as the steal of the draft.

4. Patrick Surtain II, CB, Broncos (From Alabama)

The second straight rookie CB whose dad was also a former NFL stud at the same positon, Surtain enters an interesting situation. Many thought that Surtain would be drafted to a squad that was super CB needy and that Surtain would walk right into the CB1 job. This is not how things ended up. Surtain II joins a Denver secondary that already added former All-Pro Kyle Fuller and promising young asset Ronald Darby. Surtain is likely to slot in as the no. 2 corner on the squad day 1. That doesn't change the fact that Surtain was probably the best corner in the draft. He should have no issue manning up with some of the NFL's best in year 1 and off sheer talent alone, he is one of the heavy DROY favorites heading into next season.

3. Micah Parsons, LB, Cowboys (From Penn State)

Here is another guy like Surtain that could have maybe taken the top spot on this list had he gone to a different squad. The Cowboys were a weird fit for Parsons in my opinion. They had much bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball than LB which was pretty much the only spot on their D that was solidified. That being said, Parsons is still one of the best LB prospects coming out of college that we've seen in a few years. Like JOK, Parsons can lineup anywhere on. the defense and excel at it. He's a tackle machine and is probably the most athletic LB in the class as well. The Cowboys will make it their main goal to put Parsons everywhere throughout the D to maximize his potential and hope that he can be the next Bobby Wagner or Luke Kuechly for the middle of their defense. Parsons enters the season as the DROY favorite in many's eyes, just not quite the favorite in mine.

2. Jaycee Horn, CB, Panthers (From South Carolina)

It was a shock to many to see Horn as the first defensive player of the board in the draft, but that doesn't change the fact that he walks into Carolina as one of the heavy favorites to win DROY. The Panthers were one of the league's worst secondaries last season so adding Horn is a major W for them. The trash talking, glue-like coverage DB that Horn is will be a major asset for the Panthers. Alongside stud young CB Donte Jackson, Horn should thrive. He will be Carolina's likely CB1 right away and cover some of the studs that the NFC South has to offer. Horn reminds me a bit of a younger Jalen Ramsey and there is no denying that he could have a similar year 1 impact. Horn just barely misses my no. 1 ranking on the list for DROY.

1. Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Dolphins (From Miami)

How rare is it for one of the seemingly best defenders in the class goes out of the top 15. Phillips, who is my personal favorite for DROY, went all the way down at 18 to the Dolphins. If not for a rocky injury history, Phillips would have easily been a top 10 pick in the draft and probably the first defensive player off the board. Every draft seems to have that one can't miss stud edge rusher, and Phillips was him in this draft but not everyone realized that due to his injury history. If Phillips can stay healthy, he will be a freak off the edge in Brian Flores' defense right away. The Dolphins really lacked a true stud edge rusher and Phillips can be that guy for them from day 1. I think if there is anyone who I could see having more than 10 sacks as a rookie, Phillips is easily the favorite. While it's very close, Phillips is my favorite to win the defensive rookie of the year award! 

DROY Honorable Mentions: Kwity Paye (EDGE, Colts), Zaven Collins (LB, Cardinals), Greg Newsome II (CB, Browns), Eric Stokes (CB, Packers), Tre Brown (CB, Seahawks), Milton Williams (DT, Eagles), Richie Grant (S, Falcons), Jevon Holland (S, Dolphins), Kelvin Joseph (CB, Cowboys)