Ex Patriots' Stephon Gilmore Open To Homecoming?
For a two-time All-Pro and former Defensive Player of the Year, ex-New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore is generating surprisingly-little buzz on the free agent market.
Gilmore, who spent last season with the Dallas Cowboys, remains unsigned after the first week of free agency. The five-time Pro Bowl selection may be 33 (34 in September), but he's still capable of playing at a very high level.
According to MassLive's Karen Guregian, a return to New England could be in the cards for Gilmore as he continues to weigh his options.
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"While Stephon Gilmore’s stated preference is to return to the Dallas Cowboys, where he provided a much-needed boost for Jerry Jones’ defense last season, a source told MassLive the veteran corner was open to all options, including another go-round with the Patriots," Guregian writes.
After spending the first five years of his career with the Buffalo Bills, Gilmore defected to join the division-rival Patriots in 2017, signing a five-year deal worth $65 million. He instantly became the leader in New England secondary, defending 52 passes with 11 interceptions over four seasons and helping the team win Super Bowl LIII.
In October of 2021, the Patriots traded Gilmore to the Carolina Panthers after he missed the first several games of the season. due to injury. He then signed with the Indianapolis Colts during the 2022 offseason and was traded to the Cowboys a year later.
If Gilmore does decide to return to New England, the Patriots wouldn't just be getting a high-caliber corner, but a mentor for 2023 first-round pick Christian Gonzalez. Gonzalez looked very promising before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 4, and learning from one of the best at his position should do wonders for him.
The Patriots still have over $55 million in cap space after a conservative start to free agency, so if they and Gilmore want each other, there shouldn't be much preventing a reunion.
