In the 2020-2021 NFL season, Miami Dolphins’ cornerback (CB) Xavien Howard had a season worthy of the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award. The DPOY award is the only individual award given to the defensive side of the ball, and it is given annually to the best defensive player in that season. The odds are against him, but his season’s statistics are in his favor.
Howard ended the season with 10 interceptions, 20 passes defended and a forced fumble. The former second-round pick out of Baylor led the league in interceptions and passes defended. Howard is the first player with 10 interceptions in a season since 2007. Howard was Pro Football Focus’ second rated corner for the season, with an 87.3 rating. For those who don’t know, PFF “analyzes every player and every play of every game in the 2020 NFL season.” According to PFF, Howard led the NFL with 4 games of allowing zero yards in coverage. That is four games of shutting down one side of the field.
Howard was a First-Team AP All-Pro selection and received 47 of a possible 50 votes from the AP voters. Howard was named to his second Pro Bowl and had 165,332 votes, the most at the cornerback position.
In the Defensive Player of the Year’s 48-year history, only six cornerbacks have won the award. The good news is that 2019’s DPOY was New England Patriots’ CB Stephon Gilmore. In comparison, Gilmore had 6 interceptions, 20 passes defended, and two touchdowns. Gilmore was a unanimous selection to the AP All-Pro First Team and made the Pro Bowl. If Gilmore can win the award with these stats, Howard should have a good chance of bringing home the DPOY.
Standing in Howard’s path is Los Angeles Rams’ defensive tackle Aaron Donald and Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt. Donald is a two-time DPOY winner and was one of two players to be unanimously selected to the AP All-Pro First Team, as well as being a Pro Bowler in 2020. Donald had 27 tackles, 13.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. Watt, a First Team All-Pro selection, was selected to the Pro Bowl after having a season with 43 tackles, 15 sacks and two forced fumbles.
As of Dec.29, Howard has the third best odds to win the award (+700) behind Aaron Donald (+230) and T.J. Watt (-200). If Howard can beat the odds, he would be the fourth Miami Dolphin to win the award (Dick Anderson, Doug Betters and Jason Taylor).
The Defensive Player of the Year, as well as the MVP, Offensive Player of the Year and other awards, will be announced at the NFL Honors. The tenth Annual NFL Honors is being held on Feb. 6, 2021 on the eve of Super Bowl LV.
