The eight-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion could test the free-agent market in March. Where could veteran Von Miller wind up in 2022?
It’s been an interesting few years for one of the league’s best defensive players in recent years.
Outside linebacker Von Miller has earned his share of accolades since being taken with the second overall pick by the Denver Broncos in 2011. He racked up 110.5 sacks and 26 forced fumbles in his first nine NFL seasons and earned Pro Bowl honors in all but one of those campaigns.
After missing all of 2020 due to injury, he played in seven games in ’21 before being dealt to the Los Angeles Rams during the season. He was a big part of the team’s Super Bowl LVI win over Cincinnati, finished with two of the club’s seven sacks.
Miller has become quite the playoff performer. In his last seven postseason games – 2015 with the Broncos (3) and 2021 with the Rams (4) – the star defender has totaled a combined 27 tackles, nine sacks, one interception, a fumble recovery, three passes defensed and three forced fumbles. Miller was MVP of Denver’s Super Bowl 50 victory over the Panthers and won a second ring with the Rams in mid-February.
But now the 10-year pro can become a free agent on March 16 (see Spotrac). If he doesn’t return to Los Angeles, what five teams could make a bid for the big-game defender?
Von Miller: Top landing spots in 2022 NFL free agency
5. Detroit Lions
In 2020, this franchise allowed the second-most points (519) in one season in NFL annals. This past year, the Detroit Lions gave up the second-most points in the league (467).
While Dan Campbell’s team was a scrappy bunch, the Detroit Lions had their shortcomings on the defensive side of the ball. Only three teams in the NFL allowed more total yards per game. And only the Falcons (18) and Eagles (28) finished with fewer QB traps than the Lions’ 30 sacks.
No doubt general manager Brad Holmes will address this shortcoming in the draft. And the addition of Miller could see him being a mentor to a young edge rusher.
4. Indianapolis Colts
As talented as Frank Reich’s club was on the defensive side of the ball this past season, inconsistency plagued the Indianapolis Colts when it came to stopping the opposition. Yes, the team was 16th in the league in fewest total yards allowed per game, 10th vs. the run and 19th vs. the pass. And the Colts were tied for ninth in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers in fewest points allowed (365).
Meanwhile, only the Dallas Cowboys (34) came up with more takeaways than Reich’s team (33) this past season. But the Colts forced 20 turnovers in nine wins and managed only 13 takeaways in eight losses.
One issue was the fact that the team struggled to come up with a steady pass rush, totaling a mediocre 33 sacks in 2021. And that was one reason the Colts were burned for 32 scores through the air in 17 outings. With edge-rusher Justin Houston a member of the squad the previous two seasons, Indianapolis totaled 41 sacks in 2019 and 40 quarterback traps in 2020.
Star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner led the team with seven sacks this past year. But there’s still a need for an outside presence. And new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley will get the most out of the relentless veteran.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
What a rollercoaster ride the 2021 Kansas City Chiefs proved to be. From a 3-4 start to a 12-5 record and a sixth straight AFC West title.
Andy Reid’s club exploded in the playoff vs. the Steelers and Bills and looked to have matter in hand in the conference title game vs. the Bengals. But the team squandered a 21-3 halftime lead and a 27-24 overtime loss denied the franchise a third consecutive trip to the Super Bowl.
Along with issues in terms of turnovers, Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive unit struggled mightily early in the year and unfortunately picked up where it left off late in 2020. All told, the Chiefs finished 27th in the league in total defense this past year and had their issues vs. the run and the pass. All this despite a midseason eight-game winning streak in which Reid’s squad allowed an impressive 103 points (12.9 average).
Spagnuolo’s group did not get a lot of pass rush, totaling just 31 sacks in 17 regular-season outings – nine by defensive lineman Chris Jones – and only five more QB traps in three postseason games. The team has some decisions to make when it comes to their front seven. And Von Miller certainly knows the AFC West.
2. Baltimore Ravens
Over the last few seasons, John Harbaugh’s club has seen its share of free-agent defections when it comes to the defensive side of the ball. And the Baltimore Ravens have seen their share of standout performers from the front seven depart lately. From Terrell Suggs, Za’Darius Smith and C.J. Mosley in 2019 to Matt Judon, Yannick Ngakoue and Jihad Ward this past offseason.
After making three straight playoff appearances, the club is coming off a disappointing 8-9 season and will take a six-game losing streak into the next season. Injuries played a large part in the club’s subpar showing, especially in the offensive backfield as well as the secondary. Combine those free-agent departures with not having cornerback Marcus Peters for all of 2021 — and eventually losing Marlon Humphrey — was a big factor in the Ravens allowing the most passing yards in the league.
Defensive coordinator Don Martindale was let go and replaced by Mike Macdonald. This past season, fifth-year pro Tyus Bowser led the team with seven sacks, followed by rookie Odafe Oweh (5.0) and free-agent addition Justin Houston (4.5). But the team came up with only 34 sacks in 17 contests. Houston is one of many potential free agents this year and Von Miller could fill a big void.
1. Atlanta Falcons
It’s been a longtime weakness for this club and it’s one of the numerous reasons the club has failed to reach the playoffs each of the past four seasons.
You have to go back to 2004 to find the last time the Atlanta Falcons averaged at least 2.5 sacks per game. That season, the team came up with 48 quarterback traps and reached the NFC title game. In 2016, the club got a big year from Vic Beasley (15.5 sacks) and the Falcons wound up in the Super Bowl. But the young defender had nearly half of the team’s 34 sacks.
This past season, the Falcons finished with a league-low 18 sacks in 17 contests. To put that in perspective, Steelers’ outside linebacker 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt totaled a league-best 22.5 sacks and Chicago’s Robert Quinn finished with 18.5 quarterback traps. All told, Atlanta managed one sack (8 games) or less (5 games) in a combined 13 outings. It was little wonder that Dean Pees’ defensive unit surrendered 31 scores through the air.
Von Miller would make the Atlanta pass rush fearsome for the first time in many years. In 2021, only the Jets (504) and Lions (467) allowed more points than Arthur Smith’s club.