Cowboys Big Splash: Stephon Gilmore Trade Lands Trevon Diggs Cornerback Partner
The Dallas Cowboys secured cornerback help on Tuesday after trading for Stephon Gilmore in exchange for a fifth-round pick sent to the Indianapolis Colts.
Gilmore, the 32-year-old veteran, comes to Dallas after signing a two-year deal with the Colts last offseason, which means the Cowboys are set to owe him $7.96 million. It is the type of big move that many fans were holding out hope for as the NFL's legal tampering period opened up on Monday.
Gilmore will arrive in Dallas with a wealth of NFL experience and a reputation as a lockdown corner who will have the opportunity to mentor Trevon Diggs. Pair the trade with the re-signing of safety Donovan Wilson; the Cowboys' secondary looks improved from a season ago when depth and injuries were a major issue.
After losing Jourdan Lewis and Anthony Brown to midseason injuries, Dallas was forced to acquire help via free agency. Despite the breakouts of DaRon Bland and Israel Mukuamu, finding a partner for Diggs still looked to be a pressing need.
Now, the secondary looks to be a potential strength of the defense, as they acquire a veteran cornerback, who, despite his age, is still playing some of his best football. Gilmore played in 16 games recording two interceptions and 11 passes defended last season with the Colts.
Adding Gilmore will now force offenses to choose between him and Diggs as to who they'll test on the perimeter. Gilmore's stickiness and physicality in coverage make him a tough assignment for any receiver, while the ball skills of Diggs make quarterbacks hesitant to test him.
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