How Bills OLB Von Miller compares to these three similar stars

Per Pro Football Reference, Miller is playing 60 percent of the Bills' defensive snaps this season, the lowest percentage of his career. Fewer snaps could lengthen his career. History suggests that the less an older pass rusher such as Miller relies on pure power, the better his chances for continuing his impact past 35. 

Miller, who is 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, is cat-like, both in play style and ability to ward off Father Time. Here are loose historical comparisons to similar players and how they performed later in their careers:

Derrick Thomas, Kansas City Chiefs (1989-1999): Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh wrote in his book, "Finding the Winning Edge," that Lawrence Taylor and Thomas could have played any linebacker position at an elite level. 

Miller modeled himself after Thomas, who died in an auto accident after the 1999 season. The Hall of Famer finished his career with 126.5 sacks and one of the highest forced fumble rates of all time (0.242 per game versus Miller's 0.166 per game). At 32, he still was playing at a high level.

Jason Taylor, Miami Dolphins (1997-2007, 2009, 2011), Washington (2008) New York Jets (2010): This is not an obvious comparison because of Taylor's size (6-foot-6). A Pro Football Hall of Famer, Taylor was a top-tier athlete who won in similar ways to Miller — with rare explosiveness, savvy and cornering ability.

Taylor remained impactful well into his mid-30s, retiring with 139.5 sacks and nine defensive touchdowns. Taylor's style of play and career arc serves as evidence that Miller could sustain his level of play longer than expected.

DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys (2005-13), Denver Broncos (2014-16): Ware is Miller's former teammate and fellow Super Bowl 50 champion. He was still impactful on the mid-2010s Broncos teams. He was more naturally powerful than Miller, and his play dropped some in his final seasons, although that was partially due to an injury. Ware missed 11 games in 2015 and 2016. At 32, he had 10 sacks.