As the NFL Honors event approaches, the NFL Network staff has officially unveiled their selections for the annual end-of-season awards, including the highly anticipated 2023-24 Defensive Player of the Year.
Pittsburgh Steelers’ standout edge rusher, T.J. Watt, secured the title of NFL Network’s Defensive Player of the Year with 11 votes, edging out his AFC North counterpart Myles Garrett by a slim two-vote margin. The ongoing debate over who deserved the award between Watt and Garrett has been fervently discussed, even though Watt has statistically outperformed Garrett across nearly all categories in the current season.
Watt’s exceptional performance in the 2023-24 season has earned him various accolades, including first-team All-Pro honors and a spot on the Pro Football Writers of America All-NFL Team. Additionally, he was bestowed with the title of AFC Defensive Player of the Year by the NFL Committee of 101. On Thursday, it was revealed that Watt had also earned a spot on the Sporting News NFL All-Pro team, a recognition shared with Garrett.
In the voting process, other notable players received consideration, with Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys securing 8 votes. Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland and Las Vegas Raiders DE Maxx Crosby both garnered 2 votes each.
For more insights and updates, visit Behind the Steel Curtain. The article also touches upon various topics, such as the 2024 East West Shrine Bowl, Senior Bowl takeaways, the Steelers facing new head coaches in the upcoming NFL season, and the potential impact of the hiring of Arthur Smith on the team, including speculation about Derrick Henry’s move to Pittsburgh.
