The Defensive Rookie of the Year Award has become all too predictable over the past two years with the highest-drafted defensive player winning the award. But that doesn’t guarantee that trend will continue. After all, we’ve seen a good mix of players from all three levels of the defense win in recent years, so the competition for Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021 should be wide open. Let’s take a look at the five leading candidates to win the award heading into the season.
Jaycee Horn, Panthers
Technically, Horn was the first defensive player selected in this year’s draft, although he didn’t come off the board until eighth overall. In a way, that contributes to this award being so wide-open this year. Nevertheless, there are reasons why the son of former Pro Bowl receiver Joe Horn was selected before any other defensive player.
He was a starter almost right away in college and faced some of the best receivers in the country while at South Carolina, which should help him make a quick adjustment to the NFL and hit the ground running in the Carolina secondary.
Jamin Davis, Washington
Davis is in a perfect position to win Rookie of the Year because of the team around him. Washington’s defensive line is loaded with talent and will be a handful for offensive lines. That should allow Davis to be free to make plays because teams won’t be able to block him.
He’ll get into the backfield to collect tackles for loss and may even get a few sacks, even from an interior position. Much like Darius Leonard won Rookie of the Year a few years ago, Davis has a serious chance to do the same by racking up a ridiculous number of tackles.
Micah Parsons, Cowboys
Despite taking last season off, there’s no question that Parsons is ready for the NFL. On the Dallas defense, Parsons will have great linebackers around him, so offenses won’t be too worried about him. That should allow him to make plays all over the field, especially since he has such a great skillset.
If the Cowboys can make big strides defensively after a terrible 2020 season, Parsons will likely be a big reason why, which will earn him a lot of attention for Rookie of the Year honors.
Patrick Surtain, Broncos
As the son of a longtime NFL cornerback, Surtain has the genes to be a star in the NFL. He also looks the part physically and is more than ready after starting at Alabama for three seasons. While Denver’s roster isn’t short on talented corners, Surtain has a chance to play his way into the starting lineup.
Plus, in the AFC West, he’ll have a chance to face plenty of talented wide receivers and prove that he’s one of the best young corners in the league.
Jaelan Phillips, Dolphins
Phillips has the luxury of joining a defense that was one of the best in the NFL last year. He’s also well acclimated to life in Miami after playing for the Miami Hurricanes last season and racking up eight sacks.
Phillips will almost be hidden amidst a strong Miami defense this year, so he’ll sneak up on people and start collecting sacks before opposing teams realize that he’s one of the best players the Dolphins have on that side of the ball.