Patriots: 3 players who should be traded to clear even more cap space
By Jerry Trotta
1. Stephon Gilmore
Was there really anybody else fitting for the top spot on this list? It feels like the Patriots and cornerback Stephon Gilmore have been inching towards a split for the last calendar year now, and this offseason presents the perfect opportunity to finally make it official.
Gilmore’s contract just makes him the ideal candidate to be traded, as it would have to be restructured for the second consecutive year in order for him to be compensated like one of the best players at this position. Despite his struggles in coverage this past season — we would attribute that to his nagging injuries — the two-time All-Pro still warrants consideration as such.
The Patriots would be smart to shop star cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
The Patriots reportedly fielded offers on Gilmore last offseason, and if they did the same this time around, there would be just as many teams lined up for his services. He might be the most important player on the defense, but New England is flush with cornerback depth and dealing him would generate approximately $7.34 million (!) in cap space.
Even if the front office isn’t sold on the CB depth chart behind Gilmore, they could turn around and sign one (or two) reinforcements in free agency, or simply use one of the acquired picks in a potential deal to select one of the higher-rated prospects in the draft.
Given that it’s unlikely Gilmore plays the 2021 season under the current terms of his contract, which is slated to pay him just $7 million, do the Patriots really want to conduct the necessary financial gymnastics to make him happy?
The answer is no, and trading the 30-year-old would go a long way in terms of amending their mistake of not doing so when his contract dilemma first came to light following his Defensive Player of the Year campaign in 2019, which is ironically when his trade value peaked.
