Last season, a new layer was added to the longstanding rivalry between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns. And it came in the form of two of the NFL's most ferocious pass-rushers. Heated debates occurred all over social media regarding the rightful Defensive Player of the Year, as Myles Garrett and TJ Watt each lifted their franchise to improbable postseason berths.
Even after Garrett narrowly beat out the linebacker for the prestigious award at the NFL Honors, opposing viewpoints continued to be hurled past one another. JJ Watt emphatically came to his brother's defense and lambasted the analytic-minded people who heavily advocated for the Browns defensive end to take home the crown. Modern and old-school fans fail to get on the same page, as topics like stats, advanced metrics and eye test are endlessly disputed.
The debate will likely rage on until the new season begins this September, but an individual who achieved plenty of accolades in his own right is confident in his opinion on the matter.
Two-Time First-Team All-Pro and current NFL Network analyst Maurice Jones-Drew unveiled his personal top-10 players list, leaving fans with much to react to and discuss. The former running back was loyal to his position group and dubbed Christian McCaffrey No. 1 ahead of Patrick Mahomes, but it was his choice for best pass-rusher that is actually causing the most buzz.
MJD firmly weighs in on DPOY debate
“No, T.J. Watt didn't win his second career Defensive Player of the Year award last season — but he should have,” Jones-Drew wrote after slotting the 2021 DPOY at No. 5, directly above Myles Garrett. “Watt beats out Garrett in my ranking because he was simply better on the field.”
The 2011 rushing yards leader (1,606 for the Jacksonville Jaguars) cites Watt's clear advantage in counting stats as a reason why he deserves foremost acknowledgement on defense. The Steelers star tallied an NFL-best 19 sacks and also recorded more combined tackles, tackles for loss, quarterback hits, passes defensed, fumble recoveries, interceptions and defensive touchdowns than his biggest competition.
Meanwhile, Garrett earned a historic 27.3 percent pass-rush win rate (essentially measures how frequent a rusher can beat his blocker in 2.5 seconds), according to Pro Football Focus. He incessantly ravaged offensive lines and forced opposing QBs to always be on high alert. Such an impact is certainty worthy of effusive praise. Watt's pass-rush win rate was 16.2 percent.
Nevertheless, Maurice Jones-Drew makes quite a case for No. 90. It is the same one Steelers fans emphatically make as well. There is a lot to be said for being the more productive pass-rusher in traditional categories. After all, the number of sacks is a common standard that many people use to determine their rankings. It also plays a huge role during contract negotiations.
Both TJ Watt and Myles Garrett are undeniable juggernauts who constantly need to be game-planned around. The latter got the hardware last season, but the former should be extra-motivated to reclaim the title in 2024-25. Simply put, Steelers and Browns games are going to be fueled by even more tension, intrigue and competitive fire than usual.
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