Why the Packers need to take a chance on Stephon Gilmore
![[The Providence Journal / Kris Craig] Original Caption: Foxboro, RI, Sept 13, 2020 - Patriots Stephen Gilmore intercepts a pass meant for Miami's Preston Williams in the first half. Patriots season opener against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette stadium Sunday afternoon. [The Providence Journal / Kris Craig]Pats Defense Ruins The Fitzmagic Show](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fhttps-3A-2F-2Flombardiave-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2018-2F08-2F15425105-850x560-6abde492de7530c3ee3b8870cb36fd239c404e0e3b88a5f32d162ff816ace887.jpg "[The Providence Journal / Kris Craig] Original Caption: Foxboro, RI, Sept 13, 2020 - Patriots Stephen Gilmore intercepts a pass meant for Miami's Preston Williams in the first half. Patriots season opener against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette stadium Sunday afternoon. [The Providence Journal / Kris Craig]Pats Defense Ruins The Fitzmagic Show")
Why the Packers need to take a chance on Stephon Gilmore.
Stephon Gilmore has been a top cornerback in football for a number of years now, especially during the time he spent with everybody’s favorite vacationer – Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.
Under the Robert Kraft banner, Gilmore became a two-time All-Pro cornerback and was voted to the Pro Bowl three times. Gilmore’s play in the 2018 and 2019 seasons are considered by some to be some of the best cornerback play in league history – which led to him being crowned the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, making him the first pure cornerback to win the award since Rod Woodson did it in 1993.
Gilmore was looking for a repeat season in 2020, but unfortunately he would deal with a multitude of injuries throughout the year. Things got even worse when Gilmore partially torn his quadriceps in a Week 15 game against Miami – effectively ending his season.
Gilmore hasn’t been seen in a Patriots uniform since – and was released from the team this morning. Gilmore put out this statement on his Twitter account:
— The Gilly Lock (@BumpNrunGilm0re) October 6, 2021
Although Gilmore is still recovering from the quad injury, the Green Bay Packers need to make a move and snatch Gilmore up before the Chiefs or Buccaneers do. It never hurts to have a deep cornerback room and with Jaire Alexander seemingly on the shelf for a few weeks, Brian Gutekunst and Co. need to at least make a run at the former All-Pro.
A cornerback tandem of Jaire (when healthy), Gilmore and a rapidly-developing Eric Stokes would be something to marvel at, and arguably one of the best secondaries that Lambeau Field has ever bared.
I reiterated this in my trade target piece but if the team has an “all-in, whatever-it-takes” mindset, then Gilmore’s “rental” price for half of the season should be just that – a rental price. I’m not saying the Packers should throw the entire brinks truck at Gilmore, but the front office shouldn’t be scared off just because of a price tag.
I’ll end off with saying something that probably rings through Gutey’s head every night: “What would Aaron Rodgers do?”.