FOXBORO — Throughout his 4 seasons with the New England Patriots, free agent cornerback Stephon Gilmore was extremely praised and honored accordingly.
The Rock Hill, SC native was named the 2019 Defensive Participant of the Yr after main the league with six tackles and 20 passes defensed. He additionally prolonged his Professional Bowl choices to 4, obtained two first-team All-Professional choices and was a member of the staff that gained the Tremendous Bowl title in Tremendous Bowl LIII.
Given his earlier success in New England, it's no shock that Gilmore could reportedly be “open” to returning to the Pats as he continues to weigh his choices on the free agent market.
“Whereas Stephon Gilmore favors a return to the Dallas Cowboys, the place he offered a much-needed enhance to Jerry Jones' protection final season, a supply informed MassLive that the veteran nook is open to all choices, together with one other run with the Patriots,” wrote Patriots insider Karen Guregian.
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore surrounded by New England Patriots reporters throughout coaching camp in 2017.
Credit score: Steve Balestrieri, PatsFans Photos
Whereas the Pats would undoubtedly welcome the health Gilmore can nonetheless deliver to the sector, his expertise and veteran presence — two attributes he dropped at the Dallas Cowboys final season — may play an influential function within the improvement of second-year cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
Gilmore, who appeared in all 17 video games for Dallas final season, completed the marketing campaign with 68 complete tackles, 13 passes defensed, two interceptions and one pressured fumble. Whereas these numbers could not have lit up the Cowboys' stat sheet, Gilmore's contributions to the staff had been as a lot about management as they had been skill on the sector.
After being acquired from the Indianapolis Colts by way of commerce (in change for a compensatory fifth-round decide) in March 2023, Gilmore was anticipated to function a veteran presence within the Cowboys' secondary, reverse high linebacker Trevon Diggs. Sadly, an ACL tear throughout a one-on-one apply in September introduced an abrupt finish to Diggs' season. Accordingly, Gilmore was as soon as once more thrust right into a distinguished function in serving to hold Dallas' cornerback room centered.
Regardless of nonetheless having the expertise to guide the Cowboys' secondary, second-year cornerback DaRon Bland has emerged as their major choice on the place, breaking apart 15 passes and main the NFL with 9 interceptions. within the secondary taking up Diggs' aggressive fashion of play. Bland has since praised Gilmore's willingness to supply perception as a key think about his rise to the higher echelon of NFC defensive backs.
Similar to he did with Bland, Gilmore could have an opportunity to do the identical for Gonzalez.
After being chosen seventeenth total in 2023 by the Pats, Gonzalez has had a stellar begin to his professional profession, incomes Defensive Rookie of the Month honors for September. Sadly, his rookie marketing campaign was lower quick after he jammed his shoulder whereas making an attempt a success. It was confirmed that the Oregon product suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder that required him to bear offseason surgical procedure to restore it.
In simply three video games (and about one quarter of the sport towards Dallas), Gonzalez totaled 17 tackles, three passes defensed, one interception and sacked the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback on a nook blitz in Week 1. Maybe most significantly, Gonzalez was credited with permitting simply 11 catches on 20 targets for 124 yards and nil touchdowns.
Even on the age of 33, Gilmore has been among the many finest gamers at his place for a number of years. The previous South Carolina standout spent his first 5 seasons with the Buffalo Payments and earned Professional Bowl honors in 2016. Nevertheless, Gilmore developed into an elite defensive again after signing a profitable free agent contract in 2017.
Gilmore was traded to the Carolina Panthers in October 2021, incomes his fifth Professional Bowl choice. He signed with Indianapolis earlier than the beginning of the 2022 season. Whereas Gilmore took a little bit of a statistical dip from his days in New England, he completed his lone season with the Colts compiling 66 complete tackles, 11 passes defensed and two interceptions.
Though his skill on the sector, alongside along with his management abilities, ought to make the Pats a robust consideration within the coming days, the “Gilly Lock” aura would nonetheless look nice for any staff in want of a stable veteran presence within the secondary.
On the threat of sounding biased, nothing higher than in Foxboro for second responsibility.
