Myles Garrett is once again the name to beat in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year race.
After winning the 2025 award with the kind of landslide that leaves no debate, Garrett enters the 2026 season as the favorite to repeat. He took all 50 first-place votes last year, capping a dominant run for the Cleveland Browns defensive end, who claimed his second DPOY in three seasons.
Now the bigger question is whether he can do it again in Los Angeles.
Garrett’s case is built on a monster 2025 campaign, when he piled up 23 sacks in a record-setting season. The move to a better team in Los Angeles only strengthens the argument that he can stay in the center of the award conversation.
Still, he won’t have the runway to himself. There are two challengers sitting with odds shorter than 10-to-1, and both have real paths to making this a race.
Will Anderson Jr. is right there after back-to-back seasons with double-digit sacks for the Houston Texans. He finished second in last year’s voting and already showed what he can do on the award stage when he won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023 with seven sacks.
Aidan Hutchinson is back in the picture, too. He was the favorite before last season and still managed to pull in 8.4% of the vote after posting career highs with 14.5 sacks, 54 tackles and four forced fumbles. Keep an eye on the Lions end this year
Micah Parsons was part of the early conversation as well, sitting at +700 earlier in the offseason before an injury sent his odds tumbling to +5000. The Packers are hoping he can get back by Week 6.
Garrett is the clear headliner, but the group behind him is strong enough to keep the 2026 DPOY chase interesting.
In Other News...
Rams Just Sent A Clear Message About Who Leads This Team
Leadership in Los Angeles now has a much broader cast. The Rams named a record 11 team captains for the 2026 season, and the group says plenty about where the organization wants its authority to live: with established veterans, trusted voices and the players expected to set the tone every week. Matthew Stafford, Kyren Williams, Tyler Higbee, Coleman Shelton, Davante Adams, Myles Garrett, Kobie Turner, Nate Landman, Quentin Lake, Trent McDuffie and Joe Cardona make up the list, giving the roster a mix of offensive, defensive and special teams anchors.
The most notable twist is the arrival of Garrett and McDuffie into that leadership circle after recent trades and acquisitions, a sign that the Rams are not waiting for newcomers to settle in before handing them real responsibility. For a team that has leaned heavily on veteran presence in recent years, expanding the captain group this far feels less like a formality and more like a statement about how the locker room is being organized heading into the season. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Left Themselves Dangerously Thin Where They Could Least Afford It
The Rams went into roster cuts with a little room to maneuver at wide receiver and tight end, but not nearly as much margin at cornerback. By carrying only four cornerbacks on the initial 53-man roster, they made a clear choice about where they wanted their depth to live, and it was not in the one spot where injuries and matchups can turn a secondary upside down in a hurry. Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson remain key pieces at the position, but the overall numbers leave little cushion behind them.
For a defense that has to survive a long season against varied passing attacks, the balance looks precarious. Los Angeles waived other coverage options and may have to lean on the practice squad to patch holes if the cornerback room gets tested, which is exactly the kind of scenario teams try to avoid when setting their opening roster. The concern is not just talent, but how quickly the Rams could be forced to reshuffle if the position takes even a modest hit. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Face An Unusual Roster Problem Before Their Australia Opener
Before the Rams even get to worry about the 49ers on the field, there is the unusual business of getting everyone on the plane for Australia. The season opener will be played overseas, which means passports are not a side detail but part of the roster math, and both teams have had to spend real time making sure travel documents are in order for a trip unlike anything they see during a normal NFL season.
John Lynch described the process as a logistical grind, especially when it comes to new practice squad players who may still need passports and visas sorted out. For Los Angeles, the challenge is the same one facing San Francisco: the longest road trip in league history is also one of the most complicated, and the work behind the scenes has already started well before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]