NFL insider thinks Stephon Gilmore’s trade value would rival that of Julio Jones

It sounds like a Stephon Gilmore trade would be a blockbuster.

New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore isn’t likely to be a part of a trade in the coming weeks, largely because of how large of a haul Bill Belichick could demand in return.

Gilmore is in the midst of a holdout over a contract which will pay him $7.3 in new money but counts as $16.2 million against the salary cap. He has broken his silence on his discontent with the deal, and New England and Gilmore expect to sit down to reengage in talks about the contract, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler,

But if Gilmore was in a trade, Fowler suggested it would be a blockbuster. He went on WEEI’s “The Ken & Curtis Show” on Saturday to discuss the hypotheticals.

“It’d have to be the right defense, right time, contending team,” Fowler said, as transcribed by NESN.com. “Certainly there’s value (in Gilmore), (but) at that age I just don’t know if it’s (worth) a first-round pick or not. But it’d be a good pick.

“Julio Jones was worth a (second-round pick) and a (third-round pick) in part because you’re giving up that big salary. It wouldn’t shock me to see him (Gilmore) something close to that. I would say Gilmore ranks in the cornerback pantheon around in the same place as Jones does right now (among receivers). Jones is two years older.

“So there would be good value (for Gilmore), I just don’t know if a team would be willing to give up a first right now because of the money you’d have to pay on a new deal. Plus he’s such a good fit in New England, I mean he could fit in a lot of defenses, but he’s perfect for what they do right now. So I’d probably say a two and another pick. Maybe a two and a four and another pick.”

Gilmore is a member of a Patriots cornerback group which includes J.C. Jackson, Jonathan Jones, Jalen Mills, Joejuan Williams and Myles Bryant, among others.

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