Mike Florio, Peter King, and Chris Simms each made their predictions for the NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the 2020 season. The selection process was a little different, though. In a draft-style process, the trio each selected three players who could earn the award, creating a list of nine total candidates.
King's first choice was Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle and two-time winner of the award Aaron Donald. With Donald off the board, Simms went with the San Francisco 49ers' young second-year pass rusher, Nick Bosa, as his first selection.
"I'm going to go with Nick Bosa, 49ers, off the edge," Simms told Florio and King after stating that Donald may be too obvious a choice. "We know that defense is good. I expect them to be good. I'll go with Nick Bosa."
Florio went with Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt.
The 49ers made Bosa the No. 2 overall pick last year. He racked up 47 tackles, including 16 for a loss, nine sacks, 25 quarterback hits, an interception, two passes defensed, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries during his impressive NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign.
Interestingly, King made former another 49ers first-round pick, Aldon Smith, one of his three selections. Smith currently plays for the Dallas Cowboys after being out of football since 2015.
