NFL awards: Wide open Rookie of the Year races so far in 2019

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Devin Bush, Linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers

Defensive Rookie of the Year was probably the hardest one for me to decide on. There are at least four legitimate candidates at this point in the season, but I went with Devin Bush. The Steelers traded up to 10th overall in this year’s draft to snag Bush, and he has been showing why.

Bush makes plays all over the field, and is really starting to prove that he could fill the void at inside linebacker left by Ryan Shazier. So far this season, Bush has combined for 37 tackles placing him in the top ten in the league and the best among rookie defenders. The next rookie on the list? Tied for 39th (Cole Holcomb, linebacker, Washington Redskins).

Bush isn’t just tackling ball carriers. He is making in impact in many other areas as well. He has recorded a sack and a QB hit. He has three tackles for loss. He has a pass defended. And in just four games Bush has managed three fumble recoveries. He clearly has a nose for the football, and is proving to be a playmaker in the middle of a Steeler defense that has been lacking that for a few years now.

Bush seems to be getting more and more comfortable on the field in the NFL, and is becoming more and more of a leader as time goes on for Pittsburgh. His defensive snap percentage increased from week one to week two, and again from week two to week three. The last two games, Bush has played 100% of the Steelers defensive snaps. As the season progresses, I expect Bush to really take over as the leader and defensive play caller. He has been impressive this season and should only get better the more he plays.

Darnell Savage (safety, Green Bay Packers) was a close second for this award. He has been a vital part to what Green Bay has been able to do with their secondary this season. Like Bush, Savage can make plays across the field and make an impact in many different ways on defense. Savage has 17 combined tackles, one QB hit, one forced fumble, one interception, and three passes defended already in his first season of play. He is so versatile and has been an important player to one of the best defenses this season. He has also played every single defensive snap for the Packers this year.

Brian Burns (Carolina Panthers) and Chase Winovich (New England Patriots) were a couple edge rushers that I considered as well. Burns was named Defensive Rookie of the Month by the NFL for September. He has 2.5 sacks, nine QB hits, two tackles for loss, and 11 total tackles in his first four career games.

Winovich has been used rather sparingly in an impressive Patriots defense, but has been a force to be reckoned with when on the field. He has 3.0 sacks, four QB hits, and two tackles for loss on just five combined tackles. So clearly Winovich has been living in the backfield when he’s been out there.

Nick Bosa (San Francisco 49ers) could absolutely be a player for this award at the end of the season as well. He has been effective early this season but just hasn’t been able to come through with sacks. But as the season goes on, I think he’ll start racking up the sacks and his stats will be in line or even ahead of the rest of these guys.

Be on the lookout for an updated Awards article for each quarter mark of the NFL season! Let me know below who you think should win the awards if the season ended today, and who you think will come out on top at the end of the season.