DONE DEAL: T.J. Watt named a finalist for Defensive Player $3,25 million at the combine Trade…
It’s #AwardsSZN in the NFL, as plaudits start to come in following the conclusion of the 2023-24 regular season. The contenders for the Associated Press’ 2023 season awards have been formally announced, ahead of the 2024 AFC and NFC Conference Championship games.
With that, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt and rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr. remain in contention for the 2023 AP Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards, respectively. They join four other finalists for their respective honors, which will be presented during the NFL Honors Ceremony on February 8, 2024, at 9 p.m. ET.
This year’s Defensive Player of the Year award has been a contentious debate, with the hottest subject being the candidacy of AFC North rivals T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns. Watt and Garrett were both selected First Team All-Pro earlier this month, although other organizations were split on the “Defensive Player of the Year” title.
Garrett was voted Defensive Player of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), but Watt was awarded DPOY by the 101 Committee earlier this week for the third time in his career.
Still, as Steelers Communications Manager Michael Pertsch points out, the production differential between Watt and Garrett this season isn’t really arguable.