LA Chargers: 4 NFL Honors Awards that could be won by a Charger
By Jason Reed
LA Chargers’ potential award winner: Joey Bosa, Defensive Player of the Year
The LA Chargers have never had a player win the Defensive Player of the Year Award and Joey Bosa is a good candidate to become the first in franchise history to do so.
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Out of any player/coach that could win an award in 2020, Bosa winning the Defensive Player of the Year (which is also the biggest of the awards listed) is the most likely. While I still do not think Bosa should be the favorite to win the award, all the stars are aligning for Bosa to have a DPOTY-caliber season.
First of all, Bosa is heading into a contract year that he is undoubtedly going to be playing harder for as he hopes to earn a massive new contract next offseason. That is absolutely a dynamic that will impact his performance, as well as his preparation.
Second of all, Bosa is hitting that prime sweet spot of his career for a pass rusher. This is his fifth season in the league and he will be 25 years old; the next four years or so should project to be the best of Bosa’s career.
Third of all, he already has had a DPOTY-worthy season. If you break down his 2017 numbers compared to Aaron Donald, who won the award in 2017, then it is quite clear that he had the kind of season worthy of winning the award. Donald was better, but ever so slightly.
With an even better secondary, Bosa is going to have even more time to get to the quarterback and could rack up the number of sacks needed to win the award.
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Joey Bosa is a smart bet for the Defensive Player of the Year Award, and he is the most likely Charger to get this kind of accolade.