3 Free Agents the Patriots Should Sign Before Mandatory Minicamp
By Ryan Bunton
![October 8, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Stephon Gilmore (21) warms up before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports October 8, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Stephon Gilmore (21) warms up before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5574,h_3135,x_0,y_22/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/253/01hzg433rahjangyhrj4.jpg)
Stephon Gilmore, Cornerback
A reunion that many Patriots fans have been clamoring for, Stephon Gilmore was the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year and three-time Pro Bowler in New England. Gilmore spent 2017-2020 with the Patriots, and most recently played his 2023 season with the Dallas Cowboys.
Gilmore played all 17 games last season with Dallas, picking off two passes, forcing a fumble, and registering 13 passes defended. That would've led New England's defensive backs by a significant margin last season, as Jabrill Peppers led the defense with 8 pass breakups.
2023 first-round pick Christian Gonzalez is expected to continue his rise after a promising start to his career, but the remainder of the Patriots depth chart at corner after Gonzalez and Jonathan Jones raises a lot of question marks. There are currently eight corners on New England's roster sans Jonathan Jones. Those eight have 3,446 career snaps under their belt combined. Gilmore has 10,098. Needless to say, they could use his experience among a young position group, and the 33-year-old has shown that he still has something in the tank.
In other Patriots news:
feed