Patriots Trade Stephon Gilmore To The Panthers

Apparently the news of Stephon Gilmore’s straight-up release was a bit premature. According to Ian Rapoport, the Patriots are trading the All-Pro cornerback to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick. This comes on the heels of the Panthers acquiring another former first-round cornerback in C.J. Henderson from the Jaguars last week. The Patriots not only add a draft pick but free up roughly $6 million in cap space with the move.

The Panthers are currently 3-1 through four games are tied with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for first in the NFC South. For Gilmore, it is a chance for him to return to where he is from and where he currently resides during the offseason.

New #Panthers CB Stephon Gilmore has a house a few doors down from GM Scott Fitterer. They can go over team strategy while eating vinegar-laden BBQ.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 6, 2021

Gilmore is currently on the PUP list and will be eligible to return after Week Six.

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Originally drafted by the Buffalo Bills with the 10th overall pick in the 2012 draft, Gilmore signed a five-year, $65 million deal prior to the 2017 season with the Patriots. During his time in New England, he was a three-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro, and a crucial member of two trips to the Super Bowl, including the 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in 2018. That same season he was named the Defensive Player of the Year.

The Patriots and Gilmore had been working on a restructuring of his contract during his time away from the team however, to this point, no progress has been made and the 31-year-old is now a member of the Carolina Panthers who, by all accounts, have emerged as an early contender in the NFC under Matt Rhule and new quarterback Sam Darnold.