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The Los Angeles Rams’ star pass rusher is still the best around. Aaron Donald was named 2020’s Defensive Player of the Year during Saturday’s NFL Honors ceremony. He beat out the Pittsburgh Steelers’ TJ Watt and has now claimed the award three times in his last four seasons. He’s just the third player in NFL history to win the award three times. He’ll join an elite group that includes JJ Watt and Lawrence Taylor. Donald and Joe Greene are the only defensive tackles with multiple DPOY awards.
Donald was often double and triple-teamed throughout the 2020 season but managed to post 13.5 sacks and anchor the Rams’ defensive line. The attention he garnered helped his fellow defensive lineman break free. As a result, Los Angeles ranked second in sacks with 53. The Rams’ defense also ranked third in sack yards lost (350), only trailing the Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Donald has already amassed 85.5 sacks in seven NFL seasons and will likely continue to wrack up impressive numbers despite being at a disadvantage on almost every play.