The Cowboys caught many off-guard when they traded a fifth round pick for veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore back in March. To Dallas fans, it came as a pleasant surprise. There were no indications such a move was on the horizon and it addressed one of the most concerning positions the Cowboys had heading into the offseason.
The former All-Pro immediately slotted in as the starter opposite Trevon Diggs and represented an enormous upgrade over the previous smorgasbord of players cycling through the CB2 spot a season before.While it was obvious Gilmore was going to be an asset on the defensive side of the ball, it wasn’t evident if his presence would offer the Cowboys offense much of anything. One savvy minicamp play later and it’s starting to become clear.
CB Stephon Gilmore showcased his ability to complete for the ball during the 7 on 7 drills. This guy is a difference maker. pic.twitter.com/enMNI9CNas
— Jess Nevarez (@JessNevarez_) June 6, 2023
Outside of Gilmore, the Cowboys CB ranks are largely devoid of veteran playmakers. Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland (the expected CB1 and CB3 heading into training camp) are both well under 25 and still conserved “green” in their development.
Jourdan Lewis (27) has some skins on the wall but he’s still recovering from a very serious Lisfranc injury and unable to practice. As a whole, the Cowboys CB room is extremely young, and oftentimes, plays like it.
Aside from the occasional joint practices during training camp, nearly all practice reps are Cowboy-vs-Cowboy. It’s a battle Dak Prescott and his merry band of WRs win more often than not, and one in which the offense has a clear edge on the experience meter.
As such, there are things the offense can get away with in practice that may not fly in the regular season against more tenured CBs.
That’s where Gilmore comes in.
Gilmore knows what QBs look for downfield and he uses that knowledge in an effort to bait passers into mistakes. It’s what Prescott is sure to see later this season and it’s what makes Gilmore so valuable to the Cowboys offense today.
The Cowboys are focused on reducing their turnovers on offense in 2023 and Gilmore should help them considerably in that endeavor. He knows the tricks of the trade and can use it to mentor his CB counterparts and that should also help elevate the offense.
In a “steel sharpens steel” way, Gilmore is going to test the Cowboys passing offense in ways they may not otherwise see in offseason/preseason practices.
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