One voter’s 2023 AP First-Team All-Pro ballot

There are moments in your career where you think to yourself… “Yeah, this is a moment to remember.” Two years ago, when the Associated Press asked me to be one of the analysts responsible for voting for the First- and Second-Team All-Pro teams, as well as NFL Most Valuable Player and all other individual awards, that was certainly such a moment for me.

So, this is my second year of voting, and I wanted to share my first-team ballot with our readers. It’s an honor I take incredibly seriously, and this process involves a ton of advanced metrics, tape study, and reflections from a season of diving into both.

Some of these votes were easy; some were incredibly difficult. But it will give you a bit of insight into what happens with an All-Pro vote.

QUARTERBACK: Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

(Syndication: Florida Times-Union)

RUNNING BACK: Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

(Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports)

FULLBACK: Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco 49ers

(Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

WIDE RECEIVER: Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

WIDE RECEIVER: CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

(Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports)

WIDE RECEIVER: Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

TIGHT END: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

LEFT TACKLE: Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers

(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)

LEFT GUARD: Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts

(Syndication: The Indianapolis Star)

CENTER: Frank Ragnow, Detroit Lions

(Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports)

RIGHT GUARD: Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta Falcons

(AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

RIGHT TACKLE: Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions

(Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

EDGE RUSHER: Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys

(Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports)

EDGE RUSHER: Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns

(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

INTERIOR LINEMAN: Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants

(Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports)

INTERIOR LINEMAN: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams

Jan 2, 2022; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) rushes Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley (not pictured) as guard Ben Cleveland (66) attempt to block at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

(Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)

LINEBACKER: Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers

(Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports)

LINEBACKER: Roquan Smith, Baltimore Ravens

Jan 8, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Baltimore Ravens cornerback Damarion Williams (22) and linebacker Roquan Smith (18) bring down Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) in the second half at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

(Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)

LINEBACKER: Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints

(Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports)

CORNERBACK: Charvarius Ward, San Francisco 49ers

(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

CORNERBACK: Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears

(Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports)

SLOT CORNERBACK: Brian Branch, Detroit Lions

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

SAFETY: Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers

(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

SAFETY: Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens

(Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports)

KICKER: Brandon Aubrey, Dallas Cowboys

(Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)

PUNTER: Ryan Stonehouse, Tennessee Titans

(Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports)

KICK RETURNER: Marvin Mims Jr., Denver Broncos

(Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports)

PUNT RETURNER: Gunner Olszewski, New York Giants

(Syndication: The Record)

SPECIAL TEAMER: Ben Skowronek, Los Angeles Rams

(Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

LONG SNAPPER: Trent Sieg, Dallas Cowboys

(Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)