It might be the point of the NFL offseason where teams are more focused on evaluating the talent they have well before they need to make roster cuts rather than looking to add more players to the squad, but when a team like the Patriots still has nearly $70 million in cap space, there's no reason not to dip into that and bolster the team even more.
There aren't many holes that they need to address after a successful free agency and draft; yet, there might be a solid argument to be made that they could use some more help in their secondary. Despite having Carlton Davis and Christian Gonzalez are ready to run the show, they could use some more solid depth, and when a player like Stephon Gilmore is still available, it's hard to suggest they shouldn't consider bringing him back to town.
It has been a take from fans since Bill Belichick chose not to give him a new contract and instead traded him back in 2021. He has since gone on to join a handful of teams and remained a top cornerback in the league, but he remains unsigned as OTAs come to a close, prompting some to wish that Mike Vrabel and Co. would consider bringing him back even more.
That's the latest argument from On SI's Matthew Schmidt, who is lobbying for the new regime to consider adding the former Defensive Player of the Year to the roster for the 2025 season.
Stephon Gilmore could be the missing piece of the Patriots secondary to put the over the top this season
After putting together an impressive year with the Vikings in 2024, Gilmore has made it clear that he still wants to play this year and is ready to sign with a team that wants him.
Although the Patriots might not be at the top of his list, given that they're not considered a contender, they could use the reliability of Gilmore in their secondary, which Schmidt believes should be a leading reason for Vrabel to express interest in signing the veteran.
"Of course, the question is whether or not Gilmore would want to join New England. He may be searching for a full-time starting role somewhere, and that would be tough to get with the Pats with both Gonzalez and Davis on the roster. Not only that, but Gilmore may prefer to join a proven contender.
For the Patriots, though, Davis has historically been very injury prone, and Gilmore can always play the nickel role. So, either way, the former first-round pick would probably see extended playing time."
While that could be the ultimate goal, a team preparing for another playoff-bound season has yet to approach Gilmore about a contract, which has led to his continued availability at the end of OTAs. That could work in the Patriots' favor, especially since he has made it clear in the past that he would love to return where he saw the most success to end his career.
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If he is willing to be a mentor and maybe even lower his load on the field, since Davis and Gonzalez are the presumed CB1 and CB2, New England is the place to be. The problem is that Gilmore is still widely considered a starter in the league, so he might not be ready to give that up just yet.
However, that shouldn't stop the Patriots from potentially reaching out and inquiring about his interest and fit with the team. He would be a solid addition to the roster and the locker room. He has already been in contact with Gonzalez since he was drafted, so this would be a sensible move for the tenured player and a nice full-circle moment to end his career.