2012 NFL Defensive Player of the Year: Profiling Top Candidates for the Award

With the NFL's inaugural "Honors Show" set for Saturday, let's take a quick look at the top candidates for defensive player of the year.

Justin Smith, 49ers

Smith commanded double teams inside all season, and few down linemen were as consistently dominant against both the pass and run. The double teams he demanded helped free up the edge for rookie Aldon Smith, who had 14.5 sacks. Against the Saints in the NFC playoffs, Smith couldn't be blocked. 

Terrell Suggs, Ravens

2011 was, without much doubt, Suggs' finest season as a professional. He recorded 14 sacks, seven forced fumbles and two interceptions, each of which either tied or set career highs. On a defense that featured Ray Lewis, Haloti Ngata and Ed Reed, Suggs was the best player in 2011.

Jared Allen, Vikings

Allen's 22 sacks tied for second most in NFL history with Mark Gastineau in 1984 and came up just a half sack short of Michael Strahan's mark set in 2001. Voters might have a hard time overlooking that crazy number, but the Vikings defense was so poor this season that Allen might get passed over at the ballot.

DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys

Ware continued what has been a dominant stretch of seasons with 19.5 sacks in 2011. He finished just a half sack off his career high. Considering the Cowboys had little else in the form of pass rush this season, that number is all the more impressive.

Jason Pierre-Paul, Giants

There may not be a more difficult matchup at 4-3 defensive end in the game today than Pierre-Paul. He can embarrass a tackle off the edge with his speed, move inside to tackle and stunt around a guard or simply bull rush either player into the backfield. Pierre-Paul started 12 games but finished with 16.5 sacks and an All-Pro selection. 

Jason Babin, Eagles

Babin might have had the quietest 18-sack season we've seen in a while. If the Eagles had lived up to the preseason hype, Babin's contributions might have rung louder for NFL observers.