MIAMI -- It's safe to say the ' decision to hand cornerback a mega contract before the 2017 season has more than paid off. After leading the Patriots defense to the top of the rankings this season, Gilmore was rewarded with the most prestigious award a defensive player has a realistic shot of winning.At NFL Honors on Saturday, the eve of Super Bowl LIV, Gilmore was named the Defensive Player of the Year for 2019.It wasn't a particularly close race. edge rusher finished in second with seven fewer votes than Gilmore. What's interesting is that Steelers defensive back did not get a single vote, even though his arrival via trade helped turn the Steelers defense into a dominant enough unit that they Jason Arnott Jersey nearly made the playoffs with and at quarterback.AP Defensive Player of the Year voting:Stephon Gilmore, CB, 21Chandler Jones, Edge, 14T.J. Watt, Edge, 10Shaq Barrett, LB, 2Danielle Hunter, Edge, Colin Blackwell Jersey 1TreDavious White, CB, 1Aaron Donald, DT, 1 Anthony Galaviz (@agalaviz_TheBee) The award was given to Gilmore for his six-interception, two-touchdown, and 53-tackle season. With Gilmore leading the way, the Patriots' defense ranked first in most statistical categories: yards allowed, points allowed, interceptions, and . As the Patriots offense floundered, which ended up costing them dearly in the postseason, the defense led the team to a 12-4 record and yet another AFC East crown.To put into perspective just how great Gilmore was in 2019, consider that his approximate value -- a metric Pro-Football-Reference uses to estimate a player's overall value -- was 21. Gilmore has long been a good cornerback in the league, but his highest AV before this season was 14. It's worth noting that Gilmore had never posted an AV in double digits until he joined Bill Belichick in New England. The two have been a perfect fit.Gilmore's win snapped defensive lineman two-year winning streak. It also marked the first time since 2010 that a defensive back won Defensive Player of the Year. Gilmore became the first defensive back to win since safety Troy Polamalu. He also became the first cornerback to win since won back in 2009. The previous eight winners include one inside linebacker inand four players who attack quarterbacks -- Donald (twice), J.J. Watt (three times), (once) and (once).Gilmore's victory represents the first time a Patriots player has captured Defensive Player of the Year honors since the A sociated Pre s started handing out the award in 1971. Francesco Arcuri Jersey