ClutchPoints
The NFL Defensive Player of the Year award was in a weird place heading into the 2025 season. Last year, a cornerback won the award for just the third time this century. A lot of the best defensive players in the NFL were in unique situations, too, whether that meant they’d be playing for a new team or were coming off an injury-riddled season. Ultimately, that meant that the most prestigious defensive award was up for grabs, and it still appears that way halfway through the regular season. So, check out the gallery to see the five front-runners to win the Defensive Player of the Year award this year.
At first glance, Jared Verse’s numbers didn’t pop off the page as a rookie. He accumulated just 4.5 sacks, but the tape showed why he was the Defensive Rookie of the Year. Verse’s production, while still not jaw-dropping, has improved this season. The Los Angeles Rams edge rusher has four sacks and three forced fumbles. The Rams are allowing the third fewest points against per game (16.7), and Verse is a big reason why. He’ll have to put up more gaudy numbers going forward if he truly wants to compete for the Defensive Player of the Year award, though.
Aidan Hutchinson was well on his way to winning the Defensive Player of the Year award last year. Unfortunately, a gruesome knee injury prematurely ended his season. Hutchinson hasn’t lost a stride since returning to the Detroit Lions this year, though. Hutchinson has six sacks, and he has been a game-changer when it comes to forcing fumbles.
The former number two overall pick has forced a league-leading four fumbles this season. The Lions’ offense gets a lot of the credit, but Hutchinson is helping to establish a defensive identity in Detroit, too. Hutchinson plays with an endless motor, and while his production this season hasn’t been as impressive as it was before his injury last year, it is enough to get him in Defensive Player of the Year conversations.
In one of the biggest moves in NFL history, Micah Parsons was traded from the Dallas Cowboys to the Green Bay Packers just before the start of the season. Parsons is proving why that was a mistake for Dallas and a franchise-altering move for Green Bay. Parsons is actually the odds-on favorite to win the Defensive Player of the Year award this season.
He got off to a somewhat slow start, as the Packers integrated him into the defense with a snap count. His talent has been on full display as of recent, though. The Penn State product is one of the most versatile players in football. He can get after the quarterback, stop the run, or drop back in coverage.
His versatility is shown on the stat sheet, as he has 6.5 sacks, 17 combined tackles, and a pass...
