3 Most Likely Stephon Gilmore Free-Agent Destinations

It was a whirlwind of a season for cornerback Stephon Gilmore. The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year was traded by the New England Patriots to the Carolina Panthers and only suited up for eight games in 2021. He is now set to enter free agency looking to prove he is still a top-tier CB.

A number of NFL teams should be looking to upgrade their secondary and signing Gilmore could be the perfect way to do that. With that in mind, here are three of the most likely free-agent destinations for Gilmore.

Stephon Gilmore Free Agency

3. Detroit Lions

The Lions are in desperate need of some help in the secondary and Gilmore brings 10 years of NFL experience to the table. That knowledge of the game he has could come in handy when mentoring a couple of the younger cornerbacks on the team, especially Amani Oruwariye. Not only that, but the Lions gave up 244.7 passing yards per game this past season (No. 24 in NFL) and could use another ballhawk on defense. Gilmore racked up 2 interceptions in with the Panthers and has 27 total picks in his career. Head coach Dan Campbell is looking for aggressive players and Gilmore's style of play would fit right in.

2. Kansas City Chiefs

NFL players over the age of 30 tend to target contenders in free agency simply because they want to have a shot at earning a Super Bowl ring. The Kansas City Chiefs are a clear option if Gilmore decides to go that route. Head coach Andy Reid's defense is set to lose Tyrann Mathieu to free agency and there's no guaranteed the veteran is going to re-sign. His absence would leave the Chiefs with a gaping hole in the secondary. Gilmore made the Pro Bowl in each of last three seasons prior to 2021 and led the NFL with 20 pass breakups three years ago. Keep an eye on the Chiefs this offseason. They remain a sneaky landing spot for Gilmore.

1. Carolina Panthers

The idea of Gilmore re-signing with the Panthers make a lot of sense for both parties. The 31-year-old fits the scheme run by Carolina and could help turn Jaycee Horn into the franchise player he was drafted to be. The Panthers allowed just 192.1 passing yards per game thanks to the help of Gilmore and have enough cap space available to put together a multi-year deal. After all, Gilmore grew up in Carolina and has family nearby. It wouldn't be surprising to see him sign a prove-it deal that gives him a chance to bounce back with a big season in 2022.

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Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.