Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year
 

Saints' Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year, and Here's Why | Bleacher Report

In the eyes of NFL players, New Orleans Saints safety and former Buffalo Bill Jairus Byrd wasn’t good enough to be one of the top 100 players of 2014. This is a snub by all accounts, and pundits such as NFL.com’s Chris Wesseling and The Times-Picayune’s Rachel Whittaker agree that Byrd should have made an appearance.

Luckily, Byrd’s ranking should skyrocket next year, with the 2014 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in hand.

Wait, over J.J. Watt? Over Earl Thomas? Over Luke Kuechly, the award’s most recent winner?

Absolutely. The players above—along with many, many others not listed—will have a legitimate shot at snagging the award for themselves. However, when looking at the past Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year winners, there is a pattern of criteria that has been satisfied. Byrd is lining up perfectly with those requirements, more so than any player on the Top 100 list. And after signing a much-ballyhooed six year, $56 million contract with New Orleans, Byrd is in a great position to showcase his talents to fans outside of Buffalo.

Let’s break down the requirements for Defensive Player of the Year and how Byrd satisfies each one...

The Saints have much more defensive talent than people realize—the criminally underrated Keenan Lewis among them—but none of that talent is as valuable as Byrd.

Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year
 

:popcorn:

Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year
 

Who knows, but Cam Jordan might have a say in the whole debate about who's the best defensive player of the team.

Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year
 

Just think of the possibilities with Byrd able to play single high safety effectively!

We possibly could be better than the Seahawks defense :bng:

Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year
 

Pretty good argument to have when you have 3 players on defense who are elite at their position (Jordan, Byrd, Lewis). I expect Akiem Hicks could be on that list very soon, too.

Byrd might not end up being defensive MVP, but we have a true free safety on this team for the first time in 5 years and last time we had one it made a huge impact on the defense.

Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year
 

C'mon season!

Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year
 

Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year
 

It's too early to just give it to him........make him earn it.

Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year
 

Let's get him on the field first.

Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year
 

He who must not be named did have a magical season with us, I'm hoping Byrd betters that!

Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year
 

With our pass rush and his ability to make plays on the ball, I think he has potential for 7 or 8 picks this year... which a sneaky sack total.

It's going to be fun seeing all the ways Ryan is going to use him on the field. He should have a monster IDP season.

Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year
 

Finally a real FS.

Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year
 

Loomis didn't drop all that cash to get an average player.He brought in a elite proven playmaker that will increase our turnover and team with a emerging star in Vaccaro. We have the kind of secondary that can shut down other team passing games. I am really excited about the type of defensive team we can field this year.Byrd no doubt can be a difference maker . The only question I have is he going to be healthy? If he is and the # 2 CB is filled this group should be among the best in the league.

Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year
 

I just hope he can start the season healthy and this injury doesn't linger.

Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year
 

cant wait to see him and KV together...and the 3 safety sets with Bush...

Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year
 

if they stay healthy, they'll be AWESOME!

Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year
 

He's a decent dark horse candidate. It's happened before with Darren Sharper who actually deserved NFL Defensive MVP setting the NFL record for return yds. One could argue you could expect even greater things from Byrd because our pass rush looks better on paper than that year. Greg Williams was no joke as a Defensive Coordinator though. I think Defensive MVP is probably a stretch though. Cam Jordan would be a better candidate to me.