NFL Awards: 2016 Midseason Predictions

Von Miller: Defensive Player of the Year

In year’s past it was JJ Watt and no one else contending for the award. After a historic playoff performance and the mid-point of the NFL season, no player has an affect on a game like Von Miller. He is a half-sack behind Lorenzo Alexander for the lead in that category, but it is the all-around game, which continues to raise the eyebrows.

Miller has the quickest first step as a pass rusher, but his addition of the Dwight Freeney spin move makes him close to supernatural. Run defense and pass rushing is his specialty, but he can cover about as well as any linebacker. He has not recorded an interception on the year, but scouts and fans will all remember the interception of Tom Brady in the AFC Championship game.

As stated earlier, a quarterback has tendencies to make everyone around him, but so can a defensive player. Just Miller’s presence on the defense raises the level of play from everyone on the defense. Miller is the Denver Broncos franchise player and John Elway’s first ever draft pick. Safe to say, it is fitting for a player to replace Peyton Manning than Von Miller. He is no locked for the long haul after signing his eye-popping contract extension in the offseason.