Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt has been named a finalist for the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year award, continuing his impressive career trajectory. This season, Watt recorded 61 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and a league-leading six forced fumbles, marking his sixth consecutive season with double-digit sacks. Nevertheless, a lack of sacks towards the end of the season raised questions about his chances against stiff competition, including last year's winner Myles Garrett and fellow nominees such as Patrick Surtain II and Trey Hendrickson.

With Watt’s accolades and performance this season, many fans and analysts had expected him to confirm his position as a frontrunner for the DPOY award. Despite that, the late-season dip in sack production has led to speculation about Surtain possibly taking the lead as the favorite, alongside other dark horses like Zach Baun. The announcement of the award will take place during the NFL Honors on February 6, 2024.

Budda Baker delivered an outstanding season for the Arizona Cardinals, finishing second in the NFL in tackles with an impressive 3.7 tackles over expected per game. This remarkable efficiency set a high standard for defensive backs, underscoring Baker's elite status in the league.

The New York Giants saw promising performances from rookie defensive backs Tyler Nubin and Andru Phillips, both of whom stood out in their respective tackle metrics, contributing significantly to their team's defensive efforts.

Pat Surtain II has emerged as a standout cornerback for the Denver Broncos, earning the title of Best Coverage Defender in the NFL for the 2024 season. His exceptional performance included an impressive 87.4 coverage grade and a mere 0.53 yards allowed per cover snap, making him a central figure in the Broncos' defensive transformation.

Throughout the 2024 campaign, quarterbacks largely avoided targeting Surtain, who was only thrown at 52 times, yet he still managed to secure four interceptions, ranking second in the league with a 7.7% interception rate. His contributions were pivotal in shifting the Broncos' defense from a liability to one of the league’s best.

The Denver Broncos have secured their return to the postseason for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 in 2015, following a dramatic transformation of their defense. After a humiliating 70-20 loss to the Miami Dolphins in 2023 where they allowed a record-breaking 726 yards, the Broncos' defensive unit has since found its identity, ranking first in sacks and third in points allowed.

Head coach Sean Payton and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph have engineered this turnaround, instilling accountability and aggression. The defense, now led by Pro Bowl cornerback Pat Surtain II, will face the formidable Buffalo Bills in a wild-card playoff game, as they aim for a championship run reminiscent of their past glory.

Noah Clowney, a former standout at Alabama and current forward for the Brooklyn Nets, had a memorable performance despite the team's 113-98 defeat to the Detroit Pistons. Clowney achieved a career-high of 29 points, shooting 9-of-20 overall and 5-of-11 from three-point range, while also contributing six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. His scoring feat made him the youngest player in Nets' history to record over 25 points, five rebounds, and five three-pointers in a game.

This impressive outing marks a significant improvement for Clowney, who averaged just 8.7 points per game prior to this match, now notching double figures in eight of his last 12 games. His ability to shoot from deep has steadily improved throughout the season, and he credited his successful stint at Alabama for instilling the confidence to continue shooting during challenging periods.