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 star CB Stephon Gilmore, who wants a new contract and is rehabbing from a partially torn quad, is not present at the team’s mandatory minicamp today, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 14, 2021
*(Spelling fixed, no thanks to autocorrect)
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.
For all of the slings and arrows Jon Gruden has taken with the Raiders, he’s improved the team in each of the last three seasons while proving that he is one of the best offensive play-callers and instructors in the game. Still, Vegas has missed the playoffs in three straight years, and the defense is to blame.
The Raiders have changed coordinators and spent big money on that side of the ball, but nothing has seemed to really fix that with any degree of staying power. If they are able to pull off a trade for Gilmore, however, the Raiders might be able to finally solve their issues in the secondary.
The Raiders could use Patriots DB Stephon Gilmore on defense.
The projected starters at cornerback are the consistently inconsistent Trayvon Mullen, a second-year question mark that was overdrafted in Damon Arnette, and Amik Robertson, with a wild card in Casey Hayward also in the mix. Gilmore instantly becomes not only the best DB, but the best player on that whole defense.
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will rule the roost for years to come, but the Broncos remaining active on the trade market and the Chargers building around Justin Herbert should be the big blinking light that tells Mike Mayock he needs to pull off some trades here and there to stay competitive. Gilmore would certainly suffice.
The idea that Kirk Cousins is a bad quarterback is simply not a tenable position anymore, and Minnesota’s triplets of Cousins, Dalvin Cook at running back, and Justin Jefferson at wide receiver should help the offense produce. The defense, however, could use a bit of work in the secondary alongside standout sophomore Cameron Dantzler.
With failed first-rounder Mike Hughes gone and safety Anthony Harris having signed in Philadelphia, Minnesota needs that one big piece to really take this defense over the top this year.
The Vikings could be ideal for Patriots DB Stephon Gilmore.
Not only is Mike Zimmer a defensive head coach, but he is a guy who made his name coaching some of the best defensive backs in the game with the Cowboys in the ’90s. If anyone knows both what a great cornerback can do for his team and how to get the most out of said cornerback, it’s Zim.
The Vikings have plenty of picks to give to New England in return, and they might need to surrender those picks up to take control of the division. The Bears will start a rookie in Justin Fields eventually, the Lions are rebuilding, and the Packers are one Aaron Rodgers trade away from being average. The Vikings should be on the phone with New England right now.
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