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August 18 2024
Stephon Gilmore: Stephon Gilmore's time with the Dallas Cowboys was short-lived, as he spent just one season with the team. His agent, Jason Chayut, shared with ESPN's Adam Schefter that Gilmore has now signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings, which could be worth up to $10 million, with $7 million guaranteed.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler added that although the Carolina Panthers made an offer, the Vikings’ attractive contract won out, bringing the 33-year-old cornerback on board.
Before the 2023 season, Dallas sent a fifth-round draft pick to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for the cornerback. The trade meant a fourth new team in four years after playing for the New England Patriots in 2020, the Carolina Panthers in 2021 and the Colts in 2022.
He played a bigger role than expected for the Cowboys after Trevon Diggs suffered an ACL injury. Gilmore played all 17 games for the NFC East team and finished with 68 tackles, 13 passes defended, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
Yet the emergence of Darron Bland and the expected return of Diggs meant the Cowboys didn't have as much of a need to bring Gilmore back in free agency.
Additionally, Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News reported after the team's playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers that the veteran was playing with a torn right labrum and needed offseason surgery.
Given Gilmore's injury history, the team's need for more cornerback depth, and the fact that he’ll be 34 for most of the 2024 season, it's no surprise Dallas decided not to bring him back.
But the Vikings jumped at the chance to add a defensive back who has a resume that includes a Super Bowl title, 2019 Defensive Player of the Year, five Pro Bowl selections and two First Team All-Pro nods.
While Gilmore likely isn't the same player who led the league with 20 passes defended and six interceptions for the Patriots in 2019 and was named Defensive Player of the Year, he's not too far off from his last Pro Bowl season in 2021 with the Panthers.
If nothing else, he could provide veteran leadership for a Minnesota team that will need better production from its secondary to bounce back from a 7-10 effort in 2023.
Last season the Vikings were just 24th in the league in passing yards allowed per game, which is one reason they missed the playoffs. Gilmore has a good track record and could help the team improve that total.
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