What A Potential Stephon Gilmore Extension Could Look Like

As OTA’s and mandatory minicamp has concluded for the New England Patriots, one question hovers over the team, what is going on with cornerback Stephon Gilmore? The Patriots All-Pro corner and the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year has been frustrated with his current contract(final year of a 5 year, $65M deal) and is looking to get a significant raise. And his holdout is starting to get serious.

It has been known that since Gilmore won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2019, he wanted a raise for his play. Last season, the Patriots gave Gilmore a $5 million raise moving money from his salary in 2021. This season he is set to make a base salary of $7 million, which is well below market value. Gilmore’s $16.2M cap hit is the highest of any player on the Patriots roster, however playing on a very low number for an elite cornerback. Both the Patriots and Gilmore himself have expressed interest in continuing the marriage. So what would an extension look like? Let’s take a closer look.

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Stephon Gilmore is looking to be one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in the National Football League. The market is set by Los Angeles Rams corner Jalen Ramsey($20M annually), and I do not expect Gilmore’s extension to be anywhere near that number. I do think he can become the third-highest corner with a new deal. As of right now, the third highest paid corner in football is Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White($17.25M annually) who signed a four-year deal worth nearly $69 Million. I expect a deal similar to what the Eagles gave cornerback Darius Slay(3 years, $50M) to be the blueprint to a potential extension. Here is what I think will be beneficial to both parties involved:

3-year deal, $52.5 Million with $32 Million guaranteed. This deal also has a team option in the final year on this deal of $17.5 Million. So this deal really is a 2 year $35 Million deal. This deal keeps Gilmore in Foxboro for the rest of his career and gives Gilmore a major pay raise he has earned.

Stephon Gilmore, known by his teammates as “the silent assassin”, has completely changed the Patriots’ defense for the better since his arrival in 2017. He is considered by his teammates and opponents as the best cornerback in football and has earned his nickname(The Gilly Lock). Yes, Gilmore will turn 31 at the beginning of the season, and we all know that Bill Belichick doesn’t pay players over 30 years old. But in this case, I think Bill will make an exception. One thing to note is that the Patriots’ 6 Super Bowl-winning teams, have had great defenses, and keeping Gilmore will keep the Patriots’ defense at the top of the league.