Stephon Gilmore trade grades: Panthers boost secondary, land Patriots star for late-round draft pick

It was claimed on Wednesday that the New England Patriots would release star cornerback Stephon Gilmore except a trade companion emerged. The NFL planet imagined Gilmore could find himself in Tampa playing along with his previous teammate Tom Brady, but an interested staff did emerge several hours in advance of the release was to reportedly come to be official, as the Carolina Panthers despatched a 2023 sixth-spherical choose to the Patriots in trade for Gilmore.

The 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the 12 months is still recovering from a torn quad, and is not eligible to appear off of the bodily unable to complete listing right up until 7 days seven. Even now, the addition of Gilmore to Carolina’s secondary is a great a person. He is in the remaining year of his contract and was looking for additional economic compensation this offseason, but now with a new staff, the Panthers will have to revisit that challenge at some position down the highway.

So, who won this trade and who lost it? There are a pair diverse sides of this transaction to dive into, so let’s grade this deal. 

Panthers: A

The Panthers’ protection has been a person of the more exciting storylines by means of the early aspect of the 2021 time. When they were being outpowered by the Dallas Cowboys’ high-traveling offense 36-28 on Sunday, the Panthers still have the No. 3 protection in the league in conditions of total yards permitted per game. On the other hand, the Panthers lost initially-spherical choose corner Jaycee Horn to a damaged foot and safety Juston Burris to a groin injuries, so they were being certainly interested in incorporating some parts to their secondary. Carolina even traded for previous No. 9 all round choose C.J. Henderson last thirty day period. 

Adding Gilmore definitely allows the Panthers’ secondary, but you can find another aspect of this deal which tends to make it an “A.” According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Gilmore and the Panthers are open up to him playing out the remaining year of his deal at $five.eight million. Joe Man or woman of The Athletic backed this up, expressing that this transaction is not a “trade-and-sign” condition. With Gilmore getting traded, it was reasonable to ponder if an extension could be aspect of the agreement, even if that was just a assure at the rear of closed doorways. In its place of owning to commit to a 31-year-outdated corner for many decades, the Panthers now have the option to see how he performs and then talk extension afterwards on. Which is a huge deal. 

Patriots: D+

No a person is heading to be content about trading absent a two-time All-Professional for a long run sixth-spherical choose, but all is not lost for the Patriots. New England evidently did not want to prolong Gilmore, which led to a rift this offseason. Then arrived the report that he was heading to be introduced on Wednesday, so a sixth-spherical choose is just a minimal improved than nothing.

The Patriots help you save $five.eight million on cap and they were being equipped to deal Gilmore absent to the other meeting. Far more importantly, they held him absent from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In reality, they dealt Gilmore to a division rival! With Gilmore owning to sit out for the initially six weeks of the time, that even extra to the look that the Patriots had relatively moved on, as J.C. Jackson and Jalen Mills started off at corner. Gilmore is worthy of more than a long run sixth-rounder, but at the very least he is not assisting Brady pursue another Tremendous Bowl in Tampa.