Khalil Mack, an All-Pro no matter what position he’s rushing the passer from, has been named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year. The third-year Raider finished his 2016 campaign with just 11 sacks, but terrorized quarterbacks with his speed rush and ability to dislodge the ball on contact.
Khalil Mack tops Von Miller for 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year by narrowest margin possible
Mack’s ability to force rally-squashing turnovers gave him the edge over a loaded field.
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Just behind Mack in the voting was Denver Broncos pass rusher Von Miller, who earned the award a year ago. How close was the margin? Just one vote.
Miller finished with 17 votes and Mack got 18.
Mack had three different games in which he squashed an opponent’s rally with a second-half strip sack, establishing himself as a game-changing defender and catalyst behind Oakland’s metamorphosis. The Raiders went 3-13 in Mack’s rookie year, improved to 7-9 last season, and went 12-4 in 2016 despite losing star quarterback Derek Carr to a broken leg in Week 16.
The former No. 5 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft has been a revelation as a professional. Oakland has been able to line him up at both outside linebacker and defensive end to slice through blockers and force bad throws. Mack’s athleticism and strength give him the speed to rush around the edge or the power to cut inside and engage blockers one-on-one.
The Raider beat out a stacked field of candidates for the award. Miller was in strong position to repeat as DPOY after terrorizing quarterbacks despite a litany of double teams. Lineman Aaron Donald was a disruptive presence in the trenches for the Rams. Falcons linebacker Vic Beasley led the league in both sacks (15.5) and forced fumbles (six).
In the end, Mack’s versatility and ability to bring chaos were enough to secure the league’s most coveted defensive award.
See More:
