Most-Improved Player: Malik Jackson and Derek Wolfe
I debated for awhile which guy to give this award to, but I just couldn’t do it; they both deserve it. And honestly, I think they deserve some recognition for the league-wide award, too.
Not many people outside of Denver may know who Malik Jackson and Derek Wolfe are — they’re overshadowed by big-name guys like Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware and Chris Harris Jr. — but they’re just as important as anybody on this Denver Broncos defense. In fact, the only player that graded higher than Wolfe (27.4) and Jackson (26.8) on the Denver Broncos defense is Miller (49.2).
Combined, the two have tallied 13 sacks, 15 quarterback hits and 70 quarterback hurries, giving Denver one of the best inside pass rushes in the league, but that still only accounts for part of the story. The two players, who have come up together, complement each other perfectly; Wolfe has developed into one of the league’s most dominant run defenders, while Jackson continues to be terror as a pass rusher.
And while both players have been solid for the Broncos before, they’ve reached a whole other level in 2016.
Just think of where Derek Wolfe was at a few months ago. You could have easily called him a bust — at least a letdown — before the start of this season, and his four-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs to start the year didn’t raise anybody’s confidence.
And though Jackson has been a favorite in Denver for awhile now, he’s never been more than a role player. Now, he’s a full-blown stud, putting his name up there with the best defensive ends in the NFL.
Not only should both of these guys have made the Pro Bowl, but both of these guys should be considered for All Pro honors this season; that’s how good they’ve been.
