Stephon Gilmore trade
Stephon Gilmore is currently in his 10th NFL season, as he makes his debut for his 3rd NFL team.
October 19, 2021
On Wednesday, Oct. 6th, the New England Patriots traded away cornerback Stephon Gilmore to the Carolina Panthers.
According to ESPN, the Patriots will receive a 2023 sixth-round pick in return. Gilmore has not yet played this season. However, he is expected to come off the physically unable to perform list after week six. In his four-year career with the Patriots Gilmore had 11 interceptions and 185 tackles. After the 2019 season, he was awarded the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Many Patriots players showed respect towards Gilmore and wished him the best in Carolina.
“You kinda get numb to news of guys- whether it’s being released, traded- you just get numb to transactions. But I got the chance to hit up Gilly and talk to him briefly,” said Patriots captain Devin McCourty via masslive.com. “So football, career-wise I hope it works out for him in Carolina. I want him to do the best. He is a good friend of mine… I always say, as a friend, we don’t lose friends because guys get traded or released. That will still be one of my guys. He is at the top of the list of guys that I’ve gotten an opportunity to play with. Obviously, he made me a lot better football player, playing with a guy like that. Carolina is getting a great football player, obviously a great person.”
Carolina lost their rookie cornerback Jaycee Horn for the season after he suffered a broken foot. Gilmore will be an immediate replacement for Horn once he is able to play. Panthers head coach Matt Rhule is very excited and can’t wait to have Gilmore on the field.
“I think anytime you get an All-Pro player for a future sixth, we’re going to do it, right,” said coach Matt Rhule. “This was just one of those things where it was too good to pass up. He is too good of a player and he is from here. Football character-wise, he just adds to the core of what we are.”
To sum it all up, the Panthers will be receiving a veteran cornerback who can provide plenty of leadership to their young and promising team, while the Patriots will look to develop their inexperienced secondary.
