The New England Patriots made surprising news on Wednesday when it was revealed cornerback Stephon Gilmore was traded to the Carolina Panthers for a 2023 sixth-round pick.
For most of this year, the Patriots tried to work out a restructured contract with Gilmore. He was scheduled to earn $7 million this season and was in the final year of a five-year, $65 million contract he signed in 2017 as a free agent.
The motivation behind Gilmore seeking a new deal was largely due to an offseason that saw the cornerback market explode, most notably Jalen Ramey’s record-setting five-year, $100 million deal with the Los Angeles Rams, and Gilmore was looking to get into the category of the game’s highest-paid corners.
“I just want what I’m worth, however that plays out. Every player should be paid what they’re worth. That’s just how it is,” Gilmore said in July. “Hopefully we can find some common ground and get it situated.”
Common ground between the Patriots and Gilmore never materialized.
Fast forward to Wednesday, a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter initially had the Patriots releasing Gilmore after previous trade talks with other teams broke down.
A stunner: Patriots are releasing four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who was eligible to come off the Physically Unable to Perform List after Week 6, source tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/31H8KQF8hq
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 6, 2021
The Patriots tried to trade Stephon Gilmore before electing to release him, per source.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) October 6, 2021
Gilmore and his wife Gabrielle each later confirmed the report with messages over their social media accounts.
— The Gilly Lock (@BumpNrunGilm0re) October 6, 2021
https://twitter.com/mattdolloff/status/1445776923120922629?s=20
Prior to his 12:15pm (all times EST) press conference, head coach Bill Belichick released the following statement addressing Gilmore’s release.
Statement from Coach Bill Belichick on Stephon Gilmore. pic.twitter.com/X7CR54NCwf
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 6, 2021
Bill Belichick (still shorts weather) arrives, briefly addresses Stephon Gilmore before getting into the Texans. pic.twitter.com/Cnb9PsCrdY
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 6, 2021
Teams have reached out to the Patriots today to express interest in acquiring Stephon Gilmore in a trade before his release is processed, according to a source.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) October 6, 2021
With the Patriots only having until 4 pm to make a last-minute trade before the release could become official, the team found a partner in Gilmore’s hometown Panthers just after 1 pm.
Coming soon…@BumpNrunGilm0re?? pic.twitter.com/CdlF3OX3Km
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 6, 2021
https://twitter.com/jeffphowe/status/1445812483097251840?s=20
Going home!!!!! #RockBoyz https://t.co/lQpcU5utR1
— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) October 6, 2021
Jules message for Stephon over his IG story. pic.twitter.com/XYQfPcx5pe
— Robert Alvarez (@ralvarez617) October 6, 2021
On Stephon Gilmore
Josh Uche: "A role model… A great guy to have around. I'm going to miss him…
"He's a great guy. We had some in depth convos. There's more to the player that meets the eye."
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 6, 2021
Devin McCourty said he spoke to Stephon Gilmore today, credits him for overcoming a slow start in the Pats’ system to becoming the Defensive Player of the Year.
“He didn’t do just do it well. He mastered it.” pic.twitter.com/91SstI1mJe
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) October 6, 2021
Mac Jones says Stephon Gilmore and he would talk a bunch while Gilmore was here. Gilmore would tell him what he saw Jones doing on film. They'd talk "smack." Jones said he wishes him well moving forward.
"It was an honor just to get to know him."
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) October 6, 2021
By trading Gilmore, the Patriots created an additional $5.8 million in space because Gilmore wasn’t on the 53-man roster but instead was on the PUP list according to ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss.
In addition, Reiss explained, “that players on the PUP aren’t guaranteed their salary through termination pay until they are on the 53-man roster”. So the Patriots will also save the last 13 weeks of Gilmore’s salary and roster bonuses.
Gilmore has not played an NFL game since week 15 of the 2020 season when he suffered a partially torn quad and later had surgery done to repair it. According to reports on Wednesday, the quad is now fully healthy.
With the Gilmore chapter in New England officially over, the Patriots will turn to J.C. Jackson and Jalen Mills to continue leading at the cornerback position. Jonathan Jones, Shaun Wade, and Joejuan Williams round out the current cornerback depth chart.
Gilmore departs the Patriots after four very productive seasons with the franchise.
During his Foxboro tenure, Gilmore was named to four Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pro awards, and was honored with the 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. During Super Bowl 53, Gilmore sealed the Patriots’ sixth Super Bowl title with a key fourth-quarter interception.
https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1445854924714172418?s=20
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