/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/16348486/1127193784.jpg.jpg)
Why can’t the New England Patriots get players like this? Former All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore says he’s looking for a home for his 14th season in the NFL.
“I want to play this year, it’s just got to be the right situation,” he said on The Money Down podcast, as transcribed by NFL.com “It’s got to be the right situation for me. I’m not just gonna sign anywhere. … I still love the game. I still can contribute. It’s just got to be the right place.”
At this point, Gilmore is certainly on the down side of his career. He played last year for the Minnesota Vikings and had just one interception. “His coverage ability took a dip in his age-34 season with the Vikings, and his 60.4 PFF grade in that category marked his third-worst of his career,” NFL.com’s Bobby Kownack noted.
Gilmore, a five-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time first-team All-Pro, enjoyed his greatest success with the Patriots from 2017 to 2020. His best campaign came in 2019, when he tied for the league lead with six interceptions and added 20 passes defended while on his way to earning Defensive Player of the Year honors.
His time in Foxboro ended during the 2021 season when New England traded Gilmore to the Carolina Panthers. He signed as a free agent with the Indianapolis Colts ahead of the 2022 campaign. The Colts shipped Gilmore to the Dallas Cowboys in March of 2023.
Story continues below advertisement
So after bouncing around the NFL for the last four years, could a return to New England be in the works? Upon first glance, Gilmore doesn’t seem like a good fit. The Patriots are loaded in the secondary, with Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones locked in at cornerback. At this point, it could be argued improving the pass rush (T.J. Watt?) is more important than depth in the defensive backfield.
That said, everything can change when training camp begins later this month. A poor performance here, an injury there and it’s very possible a path back to the Patriots makes sense. Heck, if Gilmore is willing to embrace a limited role so he can tutor New England’s rising stars, who says you can’t go home?
