According to the stats, 
St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald received 25 votes from a panel of writers and broadcasters, seven more than second-place Mosley.
While the stats of two players at different positions can’t be compared apples to apples, Donald didn’t make as big a splash on paper.
Last year, Mosley started all 16 games, finished seventh in the NFL in tackles (133), notched three sacks, two interceptions and one forced fumble. Donald started 12 games, made 48 tackles, nine sacks and two forced fumbles.
“If I wasn’t in the running for it, I might have [voted for him],” Mosley joked Wednesday.
Now they will be playing on the same field for the first time in their NFL careers Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, and it’s a look at how two of the game’s brightest young defensive stars have continued to mature in their sophomore seasons.
“[Donald] definitely earned [the award],” said Mosley, who became the first Ravens rookie ever voted into the Pro Bowl.
“He can wreak havoc, especially on the defensive line – interrupt plays, get in the backfield, turnovers, sacks. He did it all. He’s pretty much on the same thing this year.”
Donald, who went four picks ahead of Mosley at No. 13 overall, has followed up his breakout rookie season with and an even stronger start this year. He’s already notched 35 tackles and six sacks. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), he’s the best defensive tackle in the NFL.
Meanwhile, Mosley has seen a bit of a dip in his stats during his sophomore campaign. Mosley has 56 tackles, three sacks, four passes defensed and no interceptions. His biggest single play of the season was a fumble recovery he returned for a touchdown against Cincinnati in Week 3.
Mosley is on pace to finish just under 100 tackles. It would be the first time he’s done so since his sophomore year in college at Alabama.
Asked for why he thinks his tackles are down, Mosley pointed to the man next to him.
“I have another great linebacker beside me in Daryl Smith,” Mosley said. “He has been all over the field … so he’s taking some of those tackles too. I’ll gladly give them to him, because he definitely deserves all the credit that he’s getting right now.”
But Mosley also points to himself when explaining some of his issues this season.
“I feel like I started off a little slow, as far as knowing the type of plays I can make, making some mental errors I know I wouldn’t make in practice,” he said.
Mosley ranks 10th in the league among inside linebackers, per PFF. He’s coming off his strongest game of the year in which he notched a team-high eight tackles.
But Mosley doesn’t put much stock in those tackle stats or any others.
“I think, for the most part, it has been [a] pretty good [season],” he said.
