Analysis: Lions' Branch as DPOY? Historically, it's a long shot, but there's a path to enter conversation
Allen Park — With each big hit, third-down breakup, and game-altering interception, there’s inevitably a Detroit Lions fan somewhere who says to another, ‘That’s the Defensive Player of the Year right there.”
While teammate Kerby Joseph is piecing together an All-Pro caliber season in his own right — pacing the NFL with seven interceptions — it’s Brian Branch’s all-around performance that has set the tone for Detroit’s defense, which ranks among the league’s best. Seemingly weekly, the second-year defensive back out of Alabama does something that makes you thank the football Gods he’s on your side.
But Defensive Player of the Year? Is it realistic to think Branch might be in the running, seamlessly stepping into the void created when Aidan Hutchinson — the betting favorite for the honor — suffered a broken leg in Week 5? Realistically, probably not.
Apologies for taking the wind out of your sails before we really get going, but the truth of the matter is the award has been largely reserved for pass rushers, much like the league’s MVP typically goes to a quarterback.
It’s been 14 years since a safety won Defensive Player of the Year. In 11 of the past 13 seasons, it’s gone to a player who has primarily played along the line of scrimmage, likely because impact up front is easier to discern on a week-to-week basis.
But for the sake of argument, let’s go over each of the past 10 years of voting — while also looking at the best safety from those seasons — to see how Branch’s 2024 pace stacks up to better determine whether there’s any shot he works his way into the conversation.