Cornerback Stephon Gilmore is still a free agent, but the 34-year-old should find a new team before the start of the 2025 season. A former Defensive Player of the Year, Super Bowl champion, and five-time Pro Bowler, Gilmore is not the lockdown force he was at the beginning of his career, but he is still a reliable starter. Starting and appearing in 15 games with the Minnesota Vikings last year, the cornerback helped the team go 14-3 with Sam Darnold replacing an injured J.J. McCarthy under center.
Now taking his time to find a new team, star cornerback Jalen Ramsey’s inevitable trade is likely causing a logjam on the open market. However, once the All-Pro finds a new team, Stephon Gilmore should see plenty of free agent interest. While just about every team in the league could use another cornerback, Bleacher Report‘s Kristopher Knox believes the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys are the best fits for Gilmore.
“Gilmore is not the ballhawk and top-tier cover corner he was early in his career,” Knox writes. “However, he’s still an above-average defender – Pro Football Focus graded him 94th out of 222 cornerbacks last season – will good ball skills (9 pass breakups in 2024) and a willingness to add run support. Teams should view Gilmore as a starter or high-volume rotational corner, though he may only command a one-year deal.”
Cowboys, Panthers Linked to Free Agent Stephon Gilmore
On paper, the Dallas Cowboys have two reliable cornerbacks in DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs. However, Diggs may not be long for America’s Team, as the cornerback has battled injuries throughout the past two seasons and carries a $12.59 million cap hit that only continues to rise over the next few seasons. With Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb already signing massive deals and Micah Parsons due for a record-setting deal, Diggs is a popular trade target. Dallas can save $9.65 million with a Diggs trade, but someone will need to start in his place.
Stephon Gilmore makes as much sense as anyone, as the free agent is still an adequate option and has experience with the bright lights of Dallas. While he won’t be a shutdown cornerback, he’d be the perfect CB2 for a team hoping to compete in one of the league’s most competitive divisions.
Homeward Bound?
Gilmore is a South Carolina native, so it only makes sense that he returns home for what could be his last professional season. After successfully building an offense that could support first-overall pick Bryce Young last year, Carolina spent the past few months trying to fix their defense. Cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson will return, and the front seven should improve with a healthy Derick Brown, free agent TerShawn Wharton, and Day 2 draft picks Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen.
Thanks to their weak division, the Carolina Panthers could compete for the NFC South crown if Young continues to develop. However, signing Stephon Gilmore as a free agent will only increase their odds of reaching the postseason for the first time since the Cam Newton days. Gilmore’s presence would give Carolina three reliable cornerbacks, which is important in today’s pass-heavy NFL where nickel defenses see the field more than ever.
Main Photo: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images
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