LA Chargers: Joey Bosa, Derwin James and the best young defense duos
By Jason Reed
1. Minkah Fitzpatrick and T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ trade for Minkah Fitzpatrick ended up being an absolutely stellar one for the team. Pittsburgh traded its first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, among other late-round picks, to the Miami Dolphins for Fitzpatrick, who was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Not only was it a great trade simply in terms of value, as the Steelers wound up having the 18th overall pick in 2020, but Fitzpatrick blossomed from a great young defensive player to an elite defensive player.
Fitzpatrick was absolutely in the running for the Defensive Player of the Year in 2020. He earned his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors and finished with five interceptions (one pick-six), two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery touchdown and nine passes defended.
T.J. Watt is a two-time Pro Bowler and is one of the few young defensive ends that can make the case for being better than Bosa. He does have something that Bosa does not, as he was an All-Pro in 2019 and has recorded a combined 27.5 sacks over the last two seasons.
Bosa’s career-high in sacks is 12.5, Bosa had more than that in each of the last two seasons for Pittsburgh.
Why Keenan Allen will undoubtedly re-sign. Next
The scary part for the rest of the AFC North is that it does not stop there for the Steelers. Pittsburgh also has an elite young inside linebacker in Devin Bush, who had a really promising rookie season and is going to get even better in year two.