theScore's NFL Awards Roundtable: Defensive Player of the Year
The NFL Honors will be handed out on Feb. 4, but theScore's NFL Editors are making a case for the players whom they feel deserve to take home the hardware this season.
theScore's NFL Awards
- Offensive Rookie of the Year
- Defensive Rookie of the Year
- Coach of the Year
- Comeback Player of the Year
- Offensive Player of the Year
- Defensive Player of the Year
- Most Valuable Player
Defensive Player of the Year
Khalil Mack, DE, Raiders
73 tackles, 11 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 3 recovered fumbles, 1 INT, TD
The ultimate game-wrecker in 2016, Mack cemented many games on his own, including his strip-sack fumble recovery against the Bills in Week 13. He also ran the gamut of the scoresheet with six tackles, a sack, interception, and forced fumble against the Panthers in Week 12. He racked up 11 sacks, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and added a pick-6 for good measure. Mack was the standout defensive player of 2016. -Michael McClymont
After overcoming a slow start for a second straight season, Mack's domination in the run and passing games were a huge part of the Raiders earning their first playoff appearance since 2002. -David P. Woods
No defensive player truly dominated the 2016 season, but of all the competitors, Mack deserves the hardware this year. With a stable of new faces joining his defense, Mack led the way for the Raiders in their first 12-win season since 2000. He finished with solid numbers in tackles, sacks, forced fumbles, and tackles for a loss but his true value was seen when his team needed him most. In a crucial 35-32 win over the Panthers in Week 12, Mack recorded six tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one pick, and one touchdown. Crazy. -Mitch Sanderson
Mack's continued early career ascent has seen him emerge as an unstoppable force on the edge for the Raiders. His 11 sacks do little to demonstrate the consistency with which he terrorizes quarterbacks, and opposing offenses are now well aware that his side of the field is to be avoided in the running game. -Dan Wilkins
Von Miller, LB, Broncos
78 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
In the first J.J. Watt-less season in forever, no defensive player really separated themselves from the pack. The likes of Landon Collins, Aqib Talib, and Mack had their moments, but it's hard to look at any of them as truly great seasons. While he didn't hit the heights of last season, Miller was still the best defensive player this season. His sack numbers dropped off toward the end of the year, but he still finished with 13.5 (second in the league) despite near-constant double teams. -Jack Browne
Mack is an exciting young star and a huge part of the Raiders' return to the playoffs, but Miller still has the edge as the league's most disruptive defensive force. With Watt, the winner of three of the last four defensive player of year awards, sidelined this season, Miller will add to his ever-expanding trophy case. -Justin Boone
Miller remains the NFL's most complete edge rusher and remains impossible to block with a single defender, to the chagrin of coordinators everywhere. Although Miller was held without a sack during the final four games of the year, the body of his work was better than any single defenders, with due apologies to Mack and Collins. Through six seasons, Miller is one of the NFL's most decorated defenders and he'll capture one of the few awards that's eluded him thus far. -Arun Srinivasan
theScore's NFL Awards