Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt
I know I’ve got my biases, but T.J. Watt might just be the single best player in the AFC North in 2022. Watt has been good enough over the past three seasons that he could have won the DPOY award all three times.
When it comes to statistical production, he blows the competition out of the water during this span. In his first five seasons, Watt has exceeded all expectations — earning 72.0 sacks, 80 tackles for a loss, and a whopping 150 quarterback hits, via Pro Football Reference. He has also finished as a top-3 DPOY candidate in three straight seasons.
Watt’s big-play ability is unmatched by any edge defender or defensive lineman in the league. He has forced 22 fumbles, deflected 32 passes, and picked the ball off 4 times despite being a full-time edge rusher.
Last year, Watt dealt with w hip, knee, and groin issues — causing him to miss two games and leave early in multiple contests. Despite all of this, he was clearly the best player on the team. If healthy, Aaron Donald might be the only non-quarterback in the league who can match his presence.
There are a handful of other outstanding players in the AFC North, but these are the best from each team entering the 2022 season. I would expect, Joe Burrow, Justin Tucker, Myles Garrett, and T.J. Watt to all have monster seasons again this year.