theScore's NFL Awards Roundtable: Defensive Rookie of the Year
The NFL Honors will be handed out on Feb. 6, but theScore's NFL Editors are making a case for the players whom they feel deserve to take home the hardware this season.
theScore's NFL Awards
- Offensive Rookie of the Year
- Defensive Rookie of the Year
- Offensive Player of the Year
- Defensive Player of the Year
- Most Valuable Player
- Coach of the Year
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Marcus Peters, CB, Chiefs
60 tackles, 26 passes defended, 8 INTs, 2 TDs
As soon as Peters stepped onto an NFL field, he showed why he was praised for his playmaking ability during his college career. The rookie picked off eight passes during the season, tied for most in the league, and returned two for touchdowns. Quarterbacks routinely challenged Peters, and while he showed that he was still raw by being occasionally beaten for a big play, he played with a confidence and skill that few first-year cornerbacks possess. - Jack Browne
Any time you can lead the NFL in interceptions as a rookie it should be a no-brainer in a league that covets cover men. - Joe Thomson
Having the difficult task of matching up with some incredibly talented receivers, cornerbacks tend to struggle in making a quick adjustment to the NFL. That was anything but the case for Peters this year. After being the third cornerback off the board in last year's draft, the budding shutdown defender likely has a number of teams regretting the picks they made earlier in the first round. - Dan Wilkins
Nothing against the rookie performances of Saints linebacker Hau'oli Kikaha or Bills corner Ronald Darby, but there is a zero percent chance they wrestle this award away from Peters. The eye-grabbing interception total only scratches the surface of a player who is well on his way to becoming a top-10 player at his position. - Justin Boone
Peters didn't just lead all rookies in interceptions, he led the entire league. He also ranked at the top in passes defensed and took two picks back for touchdowns. Slam-dunk choice. - David P. Woods
Ronald Darby, CB, Bills
61 tackles, 21 passes defended, 2 INTs
Darby's stats weren't as flashy as Peters, but he did put together an impressive rookie campaign and quickly established himself as one of the NFL's top cornerbacks. The second-round pick had a team-record 21 passes defensed - good for fifth in the league - and allowed just four touchdowns all season, according to Pro Football Focus. He's got a bright future ahead. - Caitlyn Holroyd
Peters' raw numbers are much better, but advanced statistics show Darby produced a better rookie campaign. Darby graded out as Pro Football Focus' fourth-best cornerback and was arguably the Bills' best player for the duration of the season. It's a minute advantage, but Darby allowed less touchdowns, yards in coverage per snap, total passing yardage and yards per catch than Peters. The Bills' second-round pick was the savior for a underwhelming unit, and ought to be rewarded with Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. - Arun Srinivasan