Free agency begins on Wednesday. But, the Cowboys added a big-name player to their defence on Tuesday, acquiring five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore in a trade with the Colts.
The Cowboys traded a fifth-round selection to Indianapolis for Gilmore, who played all 16 games for the Colts this past season. Gilmore has reached the Pro Bowl five times in the last seven years, including two All-Pro choices. Gilmore earned the Patriots’ NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2019.
The Cowboys will be Gilmore’s fourth club in the last four seasons, as he ended his ninth season with New England in 2020, then moved to the Panthers and had a Pro Bowl season in 2021 before joining the Colts this season.
With season-ending injuries to Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis in 2022, the Cowboys are in in need of cornerback depth. At the conclusion of the season, the Cowboys still had Trevon Diggs on one side, but a healthy rotation on the other side that included youngster DaRon Bland, but also veterans off the street like Xavier Rhodes.
The Cowboys have added another veteran in Gilmore, who they clearly believe can still play and contribute despite being 32 years old.
Gilmore began his career with the Bills as a first-round selection in 2012. He was the second cornerback picked that year, after Morris Claiborne, whom the Cowboys moved up to draught at No. 6. Nonetheless, Gilmore clearly had the better career and was one of the top players picked that year overall. , like he has been doing since ten years. Gilmore agreed to play in New England, where his career took off. In four years with the Patriots, he was a two-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler, as well as the Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, with an NFL-leading six interceptions.
Gilmore appeared in nine games for the Panthers in 2021 and all 16 for the Colts last season, including a Dec. 4 game in Dallas.
After the game, Gilmore exchanged jerseys with Micah Parsons. They’ll be in the same huddle now.
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