Darius Leonard is the Defensive ROY

I have noticed a lot of debate on social media and all I have to say is Darius Leonard is the Defensive Rookie of the Year, and if Aaron Donald did not exist he would be in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year. Everyone keeps pointing to stats in this argument and the stats point to Leonard no matter how you twist them, Leonard has 122 combined tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, 6 sacks, 1 interception, and 4 forced fumbles while missing a game and parts of others - nobody, rookie or otherwise touches those stats.

Leonard also impacts the game in ways other than making game changing plays, he has called the defense all season despite missing a lot of the offseason and preseason, he also forces opponents to do something they haven't had to do in years - account for a Colts defender.

He means more to the Colts defense than any other rookie means to their defense. Other defensive rookies have had impactful seasons, but the conversation for DROY begins and ends with the Maniac.

Stats graphic pulled from NFL.com.