Aidan Hutchinson might not have been the Lions only Defensive Player of the Year candidate, there is another

There is absolutely no doubt that the loss of Aidan Hutchinson sucks for the Detroit Lions. He was not only having a good season, he was having an award winning season. Hutchinson was so good that there's a chance he might still be leading the league in pressures after this week and he didn't even play.

While we now know that Hutchinson won't be the first Lion to ever bring home the Defensive Player of the year award, there's a chance that the Lions might still get that award with another player. We're talking Brain Branch.

Branch is having a crazy season as well. On Sunday he had four tackles, two pass breakups and this crazy interception.

Branch's season is not just limited to Week 7, he's been balling out all season long. He has four interceptions this year and he hasn't allowed a touchdown this year. Then he has six pass breakups which leads all safeties and is third amongst all defensive backs. Then he currently the NFL's highest graded defensive back with a 91.4 grade from Pro Football Focus. He's the sixth highest graded defensive player in the NFL.

He would have to keep balling out like this and maybe get one or two of these interceptions into the endzone if he wants to get over the voters just not giving the award to defensive backs a lot. The last DB to win the award was Stephon Gillmore in 2019. The last safety to do it was Troy Polamalu in 2010. Only four safeties have won it since the award was created in 1971.

Branch could be the next guy. He's having an All-Pro season and with Hutchinson down, it feels more than safe to say that Branch is the Lions best defensive player.

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