Patriots: 3 best Stephon Gilmore trade partners as 2021 season approaches

The New England Patriots are not normally the type of franchise that carries contract distractions into OTAs, but they have a potential problem on their hands in the form of former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore.

In need of a new contract on a New England team that attacked the secondary in free agency while adding a few younger players to their ranks over the course of the offseason, Gilmore has taken the first step towards officially setting up his departure after four years with the Patriots.

While Gilmore is rehabbing from a partially torn quad, he did not show up to the team’s mandatory minicamp.

If his holdout continues, he may force New England’s hand and get a trade package cooked up that gets him out of Foxborough. Gilmore’s camp cleared up any ambiguity on Monday; this absence is contract-related.

Given how dominant the four-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro selection has been in his career, there will obviously be a market for his services.

Any one of these three teams could put together an attractive return for New England and get Gilmore to a playoff contender.

Patriots: These 3 teams could trade for Stephon Gilmore.

Washington still needs to figure out what they’re going to do at quarterback in the future, but Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio will once again have one of the best defenses in the league, with an elite front seven led by Chase Young and Montez Sweat standing out as the best unit on this team.

Washington’s secondary already promises to be above average with William Jackson III, Kendall Fuller, and Jimmy Moreland out there on most snaps, but adding Gilmore via trade and putting Fuller in the slot over Moreland could make it impossible to throw the ball on this team consistently.

Washington could add Stephon Gilmore to a stacked defense. Would the Patriots listen?

With that combination of skill and talent at cornerback and the duo of Landon Collins and Kamren Curl at safety, Washington could be a menace on defense. However, there is one obstacle that could prevent a potential Gilmore trade from happening.

Washington shouldn’t give up a first-round pick for Gilmore, as they should use that pick to grab their franchise quarterback next year. If they can somehow hold onto that pick and come up with the money to get Gilmore the contract he so desperately deserves, they should easily be the favorites in the NFC East.