Possible Stephon Gilmore-Patriots Reunion Takes Huge Hit

Former New England Patriots Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore is still looking for his next opportunity after a stellar 2023 campaign. Gilmore showed he can still be a starting-caliber cornerback despite being on the other side of 30 years old.

Many fans thought Gilmore would re-sign with the Dallas Cowboys, but that hasn’t come to fruition. Along with Dallas, the Carolina Panthers, another former team of Gilmore has been mentioned as a possibility, but there hasn’t been much movement on that end.

On June 12, Gilmore was asked about his playing future at Tom Brady’s Patriots Hall of Fame ceremony in Foxborough, MA.

“I’m being patient right now. I feel good,” Gilmore told reporters (h/t Sean T. McGuire of NESN). “Year 13, been playing a long time, so just being patient and waiting for the right opportunity.”

The former Patriots cornerback was also asked if fans will see him back in New England this season. Gilmore didn’t shut down the idea but added that he hasn’t had any contact with the Pats.

“Never know, I know I’ll weigh any options,” he said. “It’s a place that I played great ball. So, letting it play out how it’s going to be.”

Gilmore wasn’t wrong about playing his best ball with the Patriots, as he was named to the Pro Bowl twice and the AP first-team twice, and won Defensive Player of the Year in two years in New England. The year that Gilmore won DPOY (2019), he had 53 combined tackles, 20 pass deflections, and six interceptions (two defensive touchdowns).

The Patriots are currently set with Jonathan Jones, Christian Gonzalez, and Marcus Jones as the starting cornerbacks. However, the depth behind them isn’t great, so maybe there’s a shot that New England reaches out to Gilmore.

That said, it would likely take an overwhelming offer for Gilmore to join New England, as he showed last season that he can be of value to a contender.

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