Stephon Gilmore is one of the biggest names remaining on the free-agent market. With all 32 teams opening training camp over the next week, the former Defensive Player of the Year isn’t in any rush to find a new home. The veteran cornerback told Josina Anderson that he’s remaining patient as he seeks his next gig.
“Honestly, I’m still being patient and staying ready until teams see what they have in training camp; but you mean to tell me among 32 teams that there are 64 starting corners that are better than me? I don’t think that,” Gilmore said. “If teams want to win, I think they should sign the best players. I know I’m still a starter in this league. I started games last year, but the season doesn’t start until September, we got a while.”
Gilmore previously said that he’s waiting for the “right opportunity,” but it’s uncertain if the soon-to-be 34-year-old is still being selective at this point in the offseason. At the very least, it sounds like the veteran is seeking a starting gig. After spending the 2023 season with the Cowboys, Gilmore earlier stated a desire to re-sign with Dallas, although there were few developments on that front. Gilmore also flirted with another former squad in the Panthers and he recently hinted that he’d be open to a reunion with the Patriots.
The former Bills first-rounder earned a number of accolades during his subsequent four-year stint with the Patriots. He’s only earned a single Pro Bowl nod while bouncing around the NFL in recent years, spending time with the Panthers, Colts and Cowboys since the 2021 campaign. Gilmore has still graded out favorably by Pro Football Focus over that span and since being limited to eight games with Carolina in 2021, he’s topped 1,000 defensive snaps in each of the past two seasons (the first time he’s accomplished this feat in his NFL career).
In other words, Gilmore still clearly has something left in the tank, but it sounds like he’s willing to wait for teams to evaluate their current depth options. As Gilmore noted to Anderson, he’ll also be competing with a number of defensive backs who also remain unsigned. Gilmore specifically pointed to free-agent safety Justin Simmons, but there are plenty of other notable veteran CBs still on the market, including Xavien Howard, Patrick Peterson and Adoree’ Jackson. Considering Gilmore’s resume plus his recent performance and availability, teams will surely come knocking sooner than later.
