New England Patriots: 15 best free agent acquisitions of all-time
Stephon Gilmore. 8. player. 47. . CB. (2017-Present)
- 2x Pro Bowl (2016, 2018)
- First-Team All-Pro (2018)
- 91 career pass deflections
- 18 career interceptions
Stephon Gilmore was selected No. 10 overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 2012 NFL Draft. And while the Bills’ brain trust would probably never admit it out loud, it’s fair to wonder if his selection at the time had anything to do with Tom Brady.
Similar to the New York Jets selecting Darrelle Revis in 2007 – or really any time in the past 20 years the the Miami Dolphins, the Bills the or Jets have drafted a defensive back with a top pick – you have to think Brady is a big reason for that.
It’s been two decades now of Brady dominating opposing defenses – particularly in the AFC East scrap heap – so it’s no surprise to see the Patriots’ rivals forever shoring up their secondaries in vain.
Gilmore had five quality years in Buffalo, including a Pro Bowl season in 2016 during which he had a career-high five interceptions. When the Bills fired Rex Ryan and brought in new head coach Sean McDermott, the team curiously decided not to use their franchise tag on Gilmore, instead letting him explore free agency.
The Chicago Bears were reportedly close to working out a deal with him, but the Patriots struck first, signing him to a five-year, $65 million contract in March of 2017.
At the time, the move was widely scrutinized in NFL circles and by fans inside and outside of New England. Malcolm Butler had made it very publicly known that he wanted a new contract befitting a player of his talents and caliber.
Many thought Belichick was just being shrewd and stubborn by refusing to rework Butler’s contract as a restricted free agent who had formerly gone undrafted. In reality, he was saving the money so he could spend a chunk of it on Gilmore, who he evidently deemed to be the superior cornerback.
Per usual, Belichick was right. Butler struggled in 2017 for long stretches at a time, while Gilmore got better and better as the year went on. In the end, Butler got what he wanted in a fresh start elsewhere with the Tennessee Titans, while Gilmore ascended into the pantheon of elite NFL corners, earning a second Pro Bowl nod and First-Team All-Pro honors in 2018.
More than anything else, Patriots fans will remember Gilmore fondly for his timely interception of Jared Goff last February in Super Bowl LIII. At just 28 years of age, too, the best could still be yet to come for Gilmore in New England… an exciting idea, no doubt.