The Cowboys have acquired Stephon Gilmore from the Colts for a fifth-round 2023 pick.
Stephon Gilmore is a five-time Pro Bowler and won Super Bowl LIII as a member of the New England Patriots. While this is Glimore’s fourth team in many years, the Cowboys now have a top corner to pair with Trevon Diggs.
Gilmore has 29 interceptions in 148 season games between the New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills, and Indianapolis Colts.
The Dallas Cowboys Backfield just got seemingly better. Moreover, the big splash move, Gilmore is a former defensive play of the year.
The secondary pieces for Dallas have had their woes in the last two seasons. However, the defense has also seen tremendous highs during the previous two seasons. Stephon Gilmore will be in the backfield with Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland, and Donovan Wilson, who the Cowboys signed a 3-Year deal worth up to $24 million.
The Stephon Gilmore trade is a Dan Quinn move. The Cowboys’ issues with the CB two spot were their downfall, and he fits that spot. Gilmore’s addition is a big move for the Cowboys; he had two interceptions and 11 pass breakups last year.
The Diggs And Gilmore Duo
Trevon Diggs and Stephon Gilmore are among the best cornerback duos on paper. Dallas now has two No. 1 cornerbacks.
In Diggs’s first season, he had eleven interceptions but gave up a lot of yards. The following season, Diggs improved and showed he could be a lockdown defender, which is what Gilmore is. However, there are still some flaws to Diggs’s game, but he’s emerging as a special cornerback.
Gilmore allowed (56.2) of his targets with a completion rating, allowing 6.5 yards a catch, and a passer rating of 74.
All three rates were better than those recorded by Darius Slay, Marlon Humphrey, Jalen Ramsey, CJ Gardner-Johnson, and Jaire Alexander.
The 32-year-old had a bounce-back season in Indianapolis after playing 17 games the previous two years due to daunting injuries. Along with his two interceptions, the former Colts veteran made a career-high in tackles (66) while regaining his form as a top corner.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranked Gilmore as the ninth-best cornerback in the NFL in 2022 according to defensive grade, which included a coverage grade of 81.1.
Stephon had surgery last offseason to repair a lingering meniscus issue after suffering through the injury for years, which could be the factor in his improved defending.
Adding Gilmore to the Cowboys adds depth to the Cowboys’ defense. Gilmore also joins a great list of defensive playmakers, Trevon Diggs, Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Jayron Kearse.
Gilmore is in the final year of his two-year contract with the Colts ($9.92 million). The Cowboys will take a $10 million cap hit.
The Cowboys’ Future For The 2023 Season
The Cowboys are trending in the right direction with their defensive moves. The team resigned Donovan Wilson, added Gilmore, and brought back Leighton Vander Esch for two years ($11 million). Vander Esch will make $5.5 million per year.
The Cowboys have been a top-10 defense over the last few seasons. But with their latest addition and re-signings, the team could be top three next season.
Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn has to be happy.
Although Gilmore isn’t in his prime, he’s still good. His reconstructed knee proved that in his 2022 season with the Colts. He brings something the Cowboys weren’t getting with Anthony Brown (returning from a torn Achilles), a late-first-round pick, or another free agent.
Adding Gilmore to a team hungry to win a Super Bowl was the right move. The Cowboys are hopeful their defense can lead them to the promise land in the 2023-2024 season.
