Most Valuable Player should essentially be called Best Quarterback in the NFL. As for Defensive Player of the Year, that’s recently been Best Lineman or Edge Player of the year. Since 2008, a non-lineman or edge rusher has won the award three times — Charles Woodson, Troy Polamalu, and Luke Kuechly. The award has been given out every year since 1971, and in that time a cornerback has only won the award five times. Winners have normally been linebackers or defensive linemen. Which brings us to 2019 and Stephon Gilmore. If history is any indicator, Gilmore has a tough shot at winning the award.
The DPOY race looks like it’s going coming down to Gilmore and T.J. Watt with Danielle Hunter with an outside shot. That’s two defensive linemen/edge players and one corner. There are definitely arguments for Gilmore who has been a shutdown corner all year and is considered one of the best players at his position. I say one of the best players because there is another corner who can make an argument he’s been just as good as Gilmore.
If we go by historical precedence, Watt is going to win the award. He’s been the best player on one of the best defenses in the league. He has 13 sacks, 14 tackles-for-loss, six forced fumbles, and two interceptions. The Steelers have a history of DPOYs. Watt plays a position that normally gets the DPOY the year nod.
Per Doug Farrar — in his great breakdown of Stephon Gilmore v. Tre’Davious White — Gilmore’s stats have been pretty good — and that’s an understatement:
“Gilmore: 38 receptions allowed on 82 targets for 444 yards, 152 air yards, no touchdowns, six interceptions, and that 32.8 passer rating allowed.”
Still, Gilmore has an uphill battle. Cornerbacks simply aren’t normal DPOY candidates. Darrelle Revis never won a DPOY and that’s the last time we’ve seen this type of dominance from a cornerback. Of course, Revis’ best year was the last time a cornerback won the award but it was Woodson who took it home. If we were making comparisons to the MVP award, defensive linemen are quarterbacks, linebackers are running backs, and corners are receivers. Gilmore is trying to flip that narrative on its head.