Rashan Gary: 2022 NFL DPOY?
One of my wackiest bets this year is considered a long shot but it’s one I think everyone should consider taking. Put it on the board. Rashan Gary will win the 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award. I know, it sounds crazy when you say it out loud. I just hope you reconsider and give it a second thought. I’m trying to make you rich.
Gary is currently listed as +3,000 on DraftKings to win the award next year. A $100 bet would buy you a nice little vacation so consider it like that. Look, Gary is no lock for the award but he could easily win it and that shouldn’t be a crazy thing to say.
We know the narrative with this stuff. The voters have agendas. It’s not an issue as long as you bet responsibly. Aaron Donald has won three of the last five years. Sure, maybe he wins again but Donald would have to outdo himself which feels unlikely. Call it the Giannis effect. Hard to hand someone the award that many times.
TJ Watt won the award last year. Voters want team success. The Steelers made the playoffs a year ago. Is that going to happen with MITCH TRUBISKY starting this year in a loaded AFC? I doubt it.
Then you start to look at other candidates for the award. It’s hard to see how the Browns survive the 11 week stretch without Deshaun Watson. That probably removes Myles Garrett from the conversation unless he just blows everyone out of the water (which I guess is very possible).
Who else is there? Nick Bosa? A breakout season from Patrick Surtain or Micah Parsons? All I’m saying is that Gary needs to be in that conversation.
The truth of the matter is, Gary is a hell of a football player. It’s time the rest of you get with the program. Gary was a tough evaluation coming out of college. There were no questions about the talent. We just didn’t always see it at Michigan. At the end of the day I was in on the pick because there was always a chance that guy turned into a superstar. If you pay enough attention to what Gary has been doing, that talent is about to shine through in a big way.
For the record, I’m going to use a PFF stat in the next paragraph but I just hope that you recognize that they wrote this article once upon a time. They’re morons. They should be thankful I even used one of their stats.
The path is there. Heading into year four age 25 season. The sack total has increased in each of the last three years (2, 5, 9.5). I don’t think 18 sacks is out of the question. Gary notched 81 pressures in 2021 according to PFF which ranked third in the league. Realistically, Gary had bad sack luck. No reason why he can’t be even better and watch that sack total jump to the moon.
Let’s also remember this. That Packers defense is damn good. It’s another reason why I’m just continuing to poo poo on this Vikings parade. Is there another cornerback room in the league you would take over Green Bay? That only helps give the pass rush more time. Add in Devonte Wyatt to go along this defensive line in a pair with Kenny Clark? Stop it. This defense is very real and the Packers aren’t going away.
I love the bet. I’m in on Rashan Gary and you should be too. That dude is a MF monster. You got a punchers chance to get a free vacation. You should take it.
