Los Angeles Chargers: Four players that can win awards in 2018
By Jason Reed
Joey Bosa — Defensive Player of the Year
The fact that Joey Bosa is in the elite tier of defensive players that can reasonably win this award in just his third season is mind-boggling. While it does not take long for players to progress in the NFL, Bosa’s career did not get off to a great start after he missed four games due to contract disputes.
However, what Bosa has followed up with has more than made up for those four games. Bosa won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award and followed suit with an even better sophomore year. Now, Bosa has established himself as one of (if not the) best edge rushers in football and is the true heart and soul of the Chargers defense.
In two seasons with the Chargers Bosa has registered 23 sacks, 83 solo tackles and four forced fumbles. All four forced fumbles came last year alongside an uptick in sacks with 12.5 compared to the 10.5 he put up his rookie year.
In comparison, last season’s Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald had 11 sacks, five forced fumbles and 32 solo tackles.
Bosa had more sacks and solo tackles than Donald and had just one less forced fumble. Despite this, Bosa did not get a single Defensive Player of the Year vote. Now that is mind-boggling.
Bosa will eventually get the spotlight he deserves as he continues to tear apart NFL offensive lines. Next year very well could be the year.