Tag: Stephon Gilmore

Who are the best available NFL free agent fits left for Eagles?

We’re looking at the best available free agent fits for the Philadelphia Eagles ahead of the second wave of free agency

The Eagles have undergone significant changes on both sides of the football field, involving player personnel and a retooled coaching staff.

The free agent period and NFL draft are Howie Roseman’s seasons, and the Eagles GM got off to a roaring start after inking running back Saquon Barkley to a three-year deal, signing improving pass rusher Bryce Huff and then bringing versatile defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson back into the fold.

Roseman then added talent to the backup quarterback position, acquiring Kenny Pickett from the Steelers for a 2024 third-round pick and two 2025 seventh-round picks.

The Eagles have since added wide receiver Parris Campbell, slot cornerback Tyler Hall, defensive tackle PJ Mustipher, and linebacker Oren Burks.

With the second wave of free agency set to begin, we’re looking at the best available free agent fits for Philadelphia.

Former defensive MVP reportedly open to returning to New England

Could there be a Patriots and “Gilly Lock” reunion in 2024?

If the New England Patriots are looking to add to their cornerback room, one of the franchise’s all-time great defensive players would reportedly be open to a return to Foxborough.

Per MassLive’s Karen Guregian, former defensive MVP Stephon Gilmore is looking into all options, including “another go-round with the Patriots.”

According to AtoZ Sports’ Sophie Weller, Guregian wrote:

While Stephon Gilmore’s stated preference is to return to the Dallas Cowboys, where he provided a much-needed boost for Jerry Jones’ defense last season, a source told MassLive the veteran corner was open to all options, including another go-round with the Patriots.

Gilmore would be a solid fit as a veteran player still capable of helping the Patriots on the football field, while also serving as a mentor to the younger players in the locker room.

He’s the sort of player the team would especially want around a potential rising star in cornerback Christian Gonzalez.

The Patriots still have plenty of work to do on the offensive side of the ball, but they also can’t totally neglect the defense, which has been the greatest strength of their team since Tom Brady’s exit.

There’s no question that a player like Gilmore would only make the team better.

Ranking 2024’s top 12 free-agent cornerbacks

Top cornerbacks entering free agency in the 2024 offseason

The Carolina Panthers have lacked cornerback depth for a few seasons now. Will this be the offseason where they finally address it?

Here are the top 12 free-agent cornerbacks of 2024:

10 CBs the Colts should target in free agency

Taking a look at free-agent CB options for the Colts.

There is some potential in the cornerback group for the Indianapolis Colts but it’s the same old offseason story of a position group with promise that should add a veteran in case they don’t live up to the billing.

General manager Chris Ballard has taken his chances in this scenario in the past and it hasn’t always worked out for him. If he wants to stabilize the group, then a top-tier corner should be pursued heavily.

If he can’t land one, then a veteran to push the younger corners has to be considered. Ballard also has to keep an eye on nickel corners if he doesn’t re-sign Kenny Moore II and could use one for depth even if he is back for the 2024 season.

We should note that we understand a handful of these players won’t even hit the market, but we’re working under the hypothetical scenario that they become available, regardless of how slim the chances are.

If Chris Ballard decides to add to the position group via free agency, here are 10 players that the front office should target:

Could Dan Quinn bring any free-agent Cowboys’ defenders to the Commanders?

Which Cowboys could Dan Quinn target in free agency?

Lots of cap space, a new head coach and a new general manager. Might this lead Dan Quinn to try to bring some Dallas Cowboys to the Commanders?

According to Spotrac.com, the Cowboys will have 14 free agents this offseason. It is not out of the realm of possibility to think there might be a couple of defensive players who, because they enjoyed playing for Quinn in Dallas, might like a change of scenery to again play under Quinn and, of course, obtain a pay increase.

Of those 14 Cowboy free agents, eight were on Quinn’s defense: CB Stephon Gilmore, DE Dorance Armstrong, SS Jayron Kearse, CB Jourdan Lewis, DE Dante Fowler, Jr, CB Noah Igbinoghene, DT Johnathan Hankins, DT Neville Gallimore.

The first name in the list that jumps out at me as a possibility is Fowler. His average annual value was only around $3M, he is age 29, and still displays an explosion on the edge to rush the passer. Fowler and Quinn were also together briefly at the University of Florida. In a rotational role (no starts) in 2023, Fowler contributed 4.0 sacks, 5 TFL and 7 QB hits.

Gilmore, who makes $10M and is now 33, may not be what GM Adam Peters has in mind when it comes to rebuilding the Commanders’ roster.

The other name that sparks interest to me is Armstrong. He is another DE who is younger (age 26), and he would also cost more money. His AAV was $6M, and at 6-4, 255, he is lean and can run down a quarterback. In 2023, Armstrong only made one start, yet he did contribute 7.5 sacks, 7 TFL, and 12 QB hits.

Remember Quinn’s introductory press conference last week? He pointed out that the Commanders are strong at defensive tackle. He certainly realizes they are going to need to probably sign an edge rusher and draft one as well.

The Commanders moved on from defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young during the 2023 regular season, trading them to the Bears and 49ers respectively.

9 Cowboys who could follow Dan Quinn to Washington in next 2 years

It’s common practice for players to follow a coach to a new venue. Which defenders could trail Quinn to the east coast? | From @KDDrummondNFL

One would imagine that a ton of Cowboys defenders enjoyed their time under Dan Quinn’s leadership. His ability to motivate and lead is often cited as his best quality, and that’s for a defensive coordinator who has had three straight top-five defenses in Dallas on top of back-to-back No. 1 defenses in Seattle. In between was a stint as head coach of Atlanta that included a trip to the Super Bowl without having a top defense.

So it stands to reason, with a new franchise QB incoming and a ton of cap space, Washington is going to be an intriguing destination for Quinn’s disciples. Some will be able to join him this year, others will have to wait a year until their contracts expire. Here’s a look at two years worth of Cowboys free agents who could end up following Quinn to the nation’s capital.

 

Making a 53-man roster out of active ex-Buffalo Bills

Let’s have some fun:

The NFL is a league with plenty of turnover among players and staff. Every offseason, all 32 teams churn their roster through trades and drops, leading to recycling of personnel through free agency.

When Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott mentioned in his end-of-season presser to ‘not expect wholesale changes‘, it got us thinking: What if the entire roster was changed?

Well, as it turns out, we could.

Here are the ground rules we set for this exercise:

  • All players/coaches had to have been on a 90-man roster or practice squad at some point during the 2023 season (dating back to March 15, 2023) with one exception (below).
  • Players who weren’t in the NFL in 2023 were still considered if they were active in another league (CFL, XFL, etc.) this past season.
  • Players/coaches had to have been on the Bills’ 90-man roster, 53-man roster, or practice squad for at least one day at some point in their careers.
  • Construction of the 53-man had to be realistic and balanced in terms of numbers at each position (ie. we don’t have 1 running back and 15 wide receivers).
  • Players had to be listed at a position they’ve taken snaps in (ie. couldn’t put a TE along the OL, etc.).

This is what we came up with…

The Cowboys are likely to lose their best free agent this offseason

CB Stephon Gilmore played an enormous role on the Cowboys in 2023 but given the circumstances he’s likely to leave in free agency. | From @ReidDHanson

The Cowboys have a laundry list of internal free agents hitting the market in 2024 and very limited resources available to retain them. Sitting with -$21,111,847 in effective cap space (per OTC), tough decisions await the suddenly idle franchise. For better or for worse, it’s become quite clear not everyone Dallas likes is going to be able to come back in 2024.

With Jayron Kearse, Tyron Smith, Tyler Biadasz, Stephon Gilmore, Johnathan Hankins and Tony Pollard all set to hit free agency, the Cowboys stand to lose as many as six starters this March. And the best of the bunch is likely to be one of those players on his way out the door.

An argument could be made Smith, Pollard or even Hankins is Dallas’ best free agent this year, and that’s perfectly fair. But by many accounts it’s Gilmore who was really the best of the bunch in 2023. Gilmore didn’t just play at a high-level last season, he also served an absolutely vital role after Trevon Diggs was lost.

Gilmore’s presence in the lineup (1,150 snaps), combined with DaRon Bland’s ability to bounce outside, allowed the Cowboys to survive an otherwise catastrophic loss to the secondary.

The depth at CB was razor thin from Week 3 on, and Gilmore’s high-end play combined with his week-to-week reliability made him one of the Cowboys’ most important players. Those traits are likely to put the veteran in high demand this offseason, even if his best years are likely behind him.

There’s no question the Cowboys should love to have Gilmore back in 2024, but given the circumstances at CB, it would be a difficult signing to justify.

Diggs is expected back for the start of the 2024 season and Bland’s breakout season demands a steady role in the starting lineup going forward. It’s already an embarrassment of riches between the two and with Diggs now making top-of-the-market pay, it would be fiscally irresponsible for Dallas to re-sign Gilmore with so many other needs elsewhere on the roster.

Gilmore served a vital purpose in Dallas in 2023 and provided veteran stability to a secondary that desperately needed it. He was an ideal pairing for both Diggs and Bland and offered toughness in both phases of the game. Even if his term was only one year his presence was a rousing success because in many ways, he saved the Cowboys’ season. But given the rise of Bland and the money already dedicated to Diggs, chances are Dallas will allow their top internal free agent to leave in March.

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Cowboys CB Stephon Gilmore to have shoulder surgery before free agency

From @ToddBrock24f7: The veteran was set to wear a shoulder harness for the duration of the Cowboys’ playoff run. He’ll have his torn labrum repaired this week.

Cowboys cornerback Stephon Gilmore was an immediate difference-maker in his first year with the Cowboys, becoming one of the leaders on defense after Trevon Diggs was lost to an early-season ACL injury.

Now a late-season injury of his own will send him to the operating room as he wonders if he’ll be wearing the star again in 2024.

Gilmore is set to undergo surgery for a torn labrum that he suffered in the regular-season finale versus Washington, according to a report from Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. The 12-year veteran wore a shoulder harness in Sunday’s wild-card loss to Green Bay and played every one of the team’s defensive snaps. He was prepared to wear the harness for the duration of the Cowboys’ postseason run, delaying surgery until the offseason.

But now the offseason is here. Surgery is expected to come this week.

“I tried to give it all I’ve got,” Gilmore, 33, said after the playoff defeat. “I still felt like I could play. Tried to give it a go. Got to take advantage of these opportunities.”

What opportunity might come next for Gilmore is very much up in the air.

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A former top-ten draft pick of Buffalo in 2012, Gilmore was traded to Dallas by the Colts last spring exchange for a fifth-round 2023 pick. He is set to become a free agent in March.

Fellow Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis is also scheduled to hit free agency this offseason, while Diggs and second-year man DaRon Bland are set to return to the club.

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Here’s why Cowboys CB DaRon Bland should be defensive player of the year

20 years from now, no one is going to remember the performances put on by the 2023 edge rushers. But they’ll still be talking about Bland, and the TDs aren’t his only argument. | From @KDDrummondNFL

He’s not the Sauce, but his game is seasoned with more flavor than any of the other options on the menu. We weren’t shooting with him in the gym and we certainly weren’t cooking in the kitchen when he was prepping, but we were invited to attend the grand opening of a future three-star Michelin rating for Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland.

After a shockingly strong rookie campaign where he ascended to secondary sous chef behind Trevon Diggs, the latest Al Harris protege was sent to study. Leading the team with five interceptions out of the slot in 2022 wasn’t enough. Instead the team asked him to master boundary-corner cuisine. And what he created when taking over the kitchen in 2023 was worthy of accolade.

Just like Fx’s The Bear was the best show on cable television in 2023, Bland was that on broadcast TV. The NFL is king, owning 96 of the 100 most-watched programs since September and no player stole the spotlight more than Bland did. He was the NFL’s best defender this season and should be the clear choice to be named Defensive Player of the Year.

But the voters are going to get it wrong.

Those voters are likely giving the award to one of the game’s preeminent edge rushers. The food critics are league media, and the buzz throughout the last month of the season is likely reflective of what the final reviews will look like.

And the media aren’t talking about Bland’s historic season the way they should be.