Admittedly, saying that Oakland‘s Khalil Mack can win the MVP is a bit ridiculous. Firstly, in the glorious history of the NFL, only two defensive players have won the league’s Most Valuable Player award. Somehow, since the merger in 1970, the only defensive players to named MVP by the Associated Press have been Alan Page (1971) and Lawrence Taylor (1986). That’s not to say that some players haven’t deserved it.
In 2014, Houston‘s J.J. Watt had one of the best seasons in NFL history. Watt registered 20.5 sacks, deflected ten passes, and returned an interception for a touchdown. On top of that, Watt even played some offense, catching three passes, all of which went for touchdowns. Only seven men in history have had more sacks in a season than Watt, and none of them have had multiple seasons with at least twenty sacks like he has. After having one of the best seasons in the history of pass rushing, he probably should have won the prestigious award.
Instead, the award went to Green Bay Packer, Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers had a good season, only throwing for five interceptions as he led the Packers to the playoffs. Interestingly, Rodgers was only seventh in passing yards, and third in passing touchdowns. So why can Khalil Mack do what J.J. Watt could not?
Khalil Mack Can Win The MVP
There’s no question that the young Khalil Mack is one of the most exciting players in the league. He had fifteen sacks in a season highlighted by an incredible five sack game against the Denver Broncos. In 2015, Mack was named First Team All-Pro as a defensive end and a linebacker, and became the first player in league history to be an All-Pro at two different positions. Mack had a sensational sophomore season, and gave the Raider Nation a lot to be excited about.
Surrounding Talent
On paper, the 2016 Oakland Raiders have a ton of talent. During free agency, the Raiders added play-makers all over the defense. They signed Pro Bowl safety Reggie Nelson and paired him with their first round pick, West Virginia‘s Karl Joseph. They continued to work on the secondary, signing cornerback Sean Smith away from their hated rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs. While a pass rusher’s best friend is a good secondary, it was the other big offseason addition that will put Khalil Mack over the edge in 2016.
Despite the fact that there was no buzz about it beforehand, the Raiders managed to steal linebacker Bruce Irvin away from the Seattle Seahawks. Irvin and Mack, paired with the suspended Aldon Smith and second year defensive lineman, Mario Edwards Jr. create a fearsome pass rush for the Raiders on paper. Khalil Mack managed to have a fifteen sack season despite playing on the 22nd ranked defense. With these new teammates, Mack’s numbers should only get better.
Playoff Possibilities
Unlike J.J. Watt’s Texans in 2014, Khalil Mack’s Raiders have a chance to make the playoffs in 2016. It’s not a secret anymore, most experts are predicting that the Raiders will win at least nine games and secure a playoff spot. With that playoff berth comes national exposure. Playoff teams win the majority of their games, and get that elusive media spotlight. If Mack and the Raiders get hot at the right time, it could elevate his profile in the eyes of the voters.
In all honesty, Mack doesn’t benefit from the success of the Raiders as much as the Raiders will benefit from Mack’s individual success. Mack is clearly the best player on the team, and how far into the playoffs they go could depend entirely on Mack’s performance.
What He Would Have To Do
Realistically, it’s very unlikely that Khalil Mack will win the MVP award. As we’ve established, defensive players don’t win the award, no matter how great they’ve been. However, it’s not impossible. There are a few things that Mack could do to earn serious consideration. Firstly, the Raiders would have to be serious contenders. The AFC is very weak right now, and a deep playoff run could get the right eyes on Mack. Secondly, the young rusher needs a very impressive statistical season. Mack would have to break twenty sacks, and maybe even break Michael Strahan‘s record of 22.5 sacks in a season.
If Mack plays as well as many of us in the Raider Nation believe he can, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award is a realistic expectation. A double digit sack season, another All-Pro, and a few dozen ruined pass plays are almost guaranteed. But for the player that hopes to end a decade-long playoff drought, anything is possible.
