Stephon Gilmore adds AP First Team All-Pro to his season accolades

Stephon Gilmore was voted by the Associated Press as one of two First Team All-Pro cornerbacks this season, along with Kyle Fuller from the Chicago Bears.

That super-rich contract back in 2017 looks better and better every day.

Normally not prone to dealing out mega contracts in free agency, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots bucked the norm and broke the bank back in March that year to sign Stephon Gilmore. The ex-Bills cornerback inked a five-year deal for $65 million, with $31 million guaranteed and an $18 million signing bonus.

The deal essentially spelled the end of Malcolm Butler’s time in New England, and for the first half of the 2017 season, it looked like a mistake, frankly. Gilmore allowed too many passing completions and drew too many pass interference calls, as the entire Patriots defense struggled to find itself in the early going.

As the season matured, the unit settled in, and so did Gilmore. By the time last year’s playoffs rolled around, he finally resembled the shutdown corner he was expected to be.

In 2018, he’s been even better. As a matter of fact, Gilmore finished the season ranked as ProFootballFocus’ No. 1 cornerback in all the NFL. He was named to his second Pro Bowl recently (along with Patriots teammate Tom Brady), and on Friday, the Associated Press announced him as one of two First Team All-Pro cornerbacks on their roster.

The list was voted on by 50 members of the national media that cover the NFL. Gilmore received 26 votes – just 1 vote shy of the 27 received by fellow All-Pro Kyle Fuller of the Chicago Bears.

The 6’1, 202-lb product of the University of South Carolina has played seven seasons in the NFL now – five with the Bills and two with the Patriots. He finished the 2018 regular season with 40 tackles, 20 passes defended, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 sack.

It’s a career year for Gilmore, and the Patriots hope it’s still just getting started. New England will try and add to Gilmore’s hardware by winning him his first Super Bowl ring over the next four weeks.