re: Vaccaro was 3rd in Rookie DPOTY voting

this thread provoked the "Who was the last rookie Saints defender as good as he was?" I don't think there's an access to the full voting, muchless that of decades back. (The ROY voting is not only single first place ballots).
Looking for the last rookie defender as good as Vaccaro candidates-

2012- Hicks was a bright spot but under used, and like others, used in roles not making best use of his skillset.
2011-Jordan was a fantastic value pick- but it didn't happen immediately. About as clear of example you can find of the difference in performance of a guy playing in or not in a scheme that compliments his skillset. That he might not fit in 4-3 schemes was on his scouting report predraft.
2010-PRob oops, definition of stretching for need. Has #1 CB physical skills but #4 technique and instincts.
2009- you know the story, no bum but being the highest rated CB in that class shows you how imprecise draft science is.
2008-Sedrick Ellis actually showed a little spark his rookie year. On one hand I give him credit for getting $33million out of NFL franchise. Ya'll know he retired? Maybe he smart enough to have planned well enough. Maybe he knew the gig was up that he couldn't cut it as a Bears #4 DT. Fukkim
2004- Courtney Watson, please don't make me remember
2003- Sullivan, please, among the worst Saint draft picks all time (and that is some serious competition)
2002- Charles Grant did well enough in limited duty

okay, here we go- DARREN HOWARD
Don't see the DROY voting but his 2000 performance might have been voted higher than Vaccaro this year:

•Finished third on team with a club rookie-record 11 sacks for minus-62 yards, 53 tackles (32 solo), an interception for 46 yards, nine pass defenses, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries
•Started all 16 games at LDE and both playoff games
•Shattered DE Renaldo Turnbull's previous record for sacks by a rookie (nine-1990) with his 11-sack performance
•Also led all NFL rookies in sacks and was named to several All-Rookie teams
•Was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for September after compiling 14 tackles (six solo), three sacks for minus-18 yards, a forced fumble, and two passes defensed
•Registered first forced fumble of his career at the New Orleans 39 yard line, stopping a Lion scoring drive, vs. Detroit, Sept. 3
•Recorded his first two NFL sacks at San Diego, Sept. 10
•Posted sacks in three consecutive games: Sept. 24, vs. Philadelphia; at Chicago, Oct. 8; vs. Carolina, Oct. 15
•Had a solo tackle, five assisted tackles, a pass defensed, and first career interception return for 46 yards, which he fumbled at the one-yard line, narrowly missing a touchdown at Carolina, Nov. 12
•Had three solo tackles, two assisted tackles, a sack for minus-eight yards, and one pass defensed vs. Oakland, Nov. 19
•Had three solo tackles, an assisted tackle, a sack for minus-5 yards, two passes defensed and a fumble recovery in win at St. Louis, Nov. 26
•Had two solo tackles and a sack for minus-9 yards vs. Denver, Dec. 3, tying Turnbull's rookie record for sacks
•Broke the record the following week at San Francisco, Dec. 10, with a sack for minus-9 yards
•Had sack in his sixth consecutive game the following week vs. Atlanta, Oct. 22
•Tied his career high in tackles with six (four solo) vs. St. Louis, Dec. 24
•Started both playoff games and recorded four tackles (three solo).