Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett won the 2023 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award earlier this month. Garrett received 23 first-place votes for the prestigious honor.

Two NFL executives believe that Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith was instead the top defensive player in the league this past season.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer polled a total of 29 NFL executives to vote for seven awards, including the NFL Defensive Player of the Year honor. Breer made clear to all voters to not take into account the postseason when making their final pick for each award, but he did allow them to "use it as context in choosing winners."

Breer’s poll saw Garrett haul in 16 out of 29 first-place votes for the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt ranked just behind Garrett with eight such votes.

Smith (two), Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (two), and Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (one) also garnered votes in this poll.

Roquan Smith's promising 2023 season

Smith finished in eighth place in the voting for the 2023 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. He blossomed as a do-it-all linebacker for Baltimore in the 2023 campaign, from dropping back in coverage to regularly helping to stop the run. He also led the Ravens in a multitude of stats, including in total tackles (158).

Smith sure has emerged as one of the more well-rounded linebackers in the NFL today.

Five former Ravens coaches officially join Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers staff

Key moves.