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Seahawks' Bennett feels 'defensive MVP-ish'

Rob Carr / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Look out, J.J. Watt.

A career-best 2015 campaign has Michael Bennett gunning for the top spot among the NFL's elite defenders.

Prior to an event for his foundation, the Seattle Seahawks' star pass-rusher explained he's entering the upcoming season with the goal of winning the NFL's defensive player of the year award.

"I'm feeling really defensive MVP-ish right now, the way I've been training, the way that my body feels," Bennett told ESPN's Sheil Kapadia. "I think I've definitely got a chance to be up there with the top guys, to be one of the top defensive players in the NFL. I wouldn't be surprised if I was defensive MVP.

"I think the only difference between me and the top guys is that they made a couple more plays than me. I missed a couple sacks. Those sacks could ultimately put me over the top. If I get 14, 15 sacks, we're talking about a top player in the league. So statistically, quarterback hits, (tackles for loss), everything behind the line of scrimmage, that's what I do. I'm the king of that. So I just want to improve that every year."

Bennett has undoubtedly been one of the NFL's most productive defensive linemen over his three seasons in Seattle. The 2015 season was far and away his best yet, as he racked up an impressive 10 sacks and 52 tackles across 16 starts.

Though that high-level impact has led the 30-year-old to voice displeasure about his contract in two consecutive offseasons, he's indicated that he doesn't have any plans to miss training camp.

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