Updated: September 25, 2025
- Aaron Donald is the overwhelming favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year
- Donald is on pace to have one of the greatest defensive seasons of all-time
By 2018, Aaron Donald already had an impressive resume.
He was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons.
Donald also earned All-Pro honors multiple times. This showcased his elite performance on the field.
Before this season, he was already awarded Defensive Player of the Year. This cemented his status as one of the top defenders in the league.
.@AaronDonald97 is VERY good at football. pic.twitter.com/QwxKHf7Fg1
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) November 20, 2018
Impact on the Rams' Success
Donald plays a key role in the Los Angeles Rams' dominance in the 2018 season.
The team's defense frequently overwhelms opponents. This is often thanks to his relentless pressure on quarterbacks.
His contributions have helped the Rams secure a top position in the NFC standings. They are now a formidable contender for the Super Bowl.
Fresh off an incredible Week 11 performance that saw him rack up eight QB hurries, two sacks, and two forced fumbles, Donald's DPOY odds have been shortened once again.
2018 Defensive Player of the Year Odds
| Player | Odds to Win DPOY at Bovada |
|---|---|
| Aaron Donald | -400 |
| Khalil Mack | +450 |
| Myles Garrett | +1200 |
| JJ Watt | +1400 |
| Danielle Hunter | +3500 |
*Follow the link in the table to see all betting options
Just a week ago, Donald was a -250 favorite to win the award, but after ballin' out in prime time, it seems inconceivable that anyone will overtake him.
What it looks like when Aaron Donald is lurking behind you pic.twitter.com/rFSEAvEILY
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) November 20, 2018
Donald is historically great
Donald is in the midst of one the greatest defensive seasons of all-time.
Comparisons to Other NFL Defenders
Compared to other standout defenders like Khalil Mack and JJ Watt, Donald's impact is profound.
He leads the NFL in key defensive stats while being consistently double-teamed.
Both Mack and Watt are exceptional.
Donald’s ability to disrupt plays from the interior sets him apart.
He is a nightmare for any offense.
Aaron Donald leads the NFL in sacks, QB hits, and tackles for loss.
He would be the only defensive tackle in recorded history to do that in a season.
— Paul Hembekides (@PaulHembo) November 20, 2018
He's disrupting the game like no other interior lineman ever has, and he's on pace to smash his 2017 stats that earned him the number one grade on Pro Football Focus' top 50 players list.
He's been so good in 2018, that he's now being compared to the greatest defensive player of all-time.
Donald for MVP
Donald is a virtual lock to win Defensive Player of the Year, but he also belongs in the MVP discussion.
just give the mvp to aaron donald and skip the whole qb/rb thing i don't care
— Arif Hasan (@ArifHasanNFL) November 20, 2018
He's revolutionizing the Defensive Tackle position and the gaudy stats he's putting up are about to get even better.
Of the Rams' remaining five games, three of them are against bottom 11 offensive lines. The Aaron Donald hype train isn't slowing down anytime soon, unless of course you quadruple cover him.
The only way to slow down Aaron Donald pic.twitter.com/Q0HMUYxZJb
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) November 20, 2018
The post Aaron Donald Running Away with DPOY Award after a Huge Week 11 appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.
Original source: https://www.sportsbettingdime.com/news/nfl/aaron-donald-running-away-with-defensive-player-of-the-year-award-after-a-huge-week-12/
