Although a number of Dallas Cowboys players are expected to test free agency, they are now expected to return with a crucial player. Although acquiring corner Stephon Gilmore may have been their best offseason move overall, his future in Dallas is still uncertain.Actually, Dallas hasn’t made him an offer on a new deal yet. Gilmore is free to sign with anybody on March 13. However, John Fields of Pro Football Network is now projecting that he will return to the Cowboys.
Fields reported on February 25 that “DaRon Bland was an integral playmaker in the unit, but the veteran Gilmore also stepped up as a dependable option alongside Bland at corner.” “While he might not be playing at the same level as he did in previous years, Gilmore was still a valuable member of the team last year. It makes perfect sense for Dallas to bring back Gilmore, as it will enable them to gradually reintegrate [Trevon] Diggs while still having a robust backup plan in case the team sustains another major injury in 2024.
Gilmore was a welcome, steady presence for the Cowboys in 2023. In retrospect, Trevon Diggs’ ACL tear only further highlighted how important the addition was. As the 2024 offseason starts, re-signing the 5-time Pro Bowler feels like the right move.
Dallas is replaced by Gilmore in 2023.
There were worries that Dallas was signing Gilmore too late at the age of 33. Despite appearing in back-to-back All-Pro games in 2018 and 2019, he only made 30 starts in 2022–2021 overall.
Gilmore, though, was as reliable as a corner can be. He gave up a QB rating of 82.7 and a completion rate of 55.8%, per Pro Football Reference. His 17 starts were the epitome of good play, with 13 passes defended and 2 interceptions.
With 54 solo tackles and a 5.6% missed tackle percentage, his tackling was also impressive. Diggs and DaRon Bland’s “feast or famine” strategy has worked well for the Cowboys, but it’s crucial to have a more steady hand in
Perhaps the icing on the cake for Gilmore’s 2023 season was the lack of injuries. 2023 marked the first season that Gilmore appeared in every regular season game since 2019.
Cowboys Could Be Priced Out of Gilmore Signature
All of these stats backing up Gilmore’s 2023 season come with a literal price. That kind of corner play is hard to find, and Gilmore may have earned himself another 8-figure contract.
Spotrac projects a one-year, $11.2 million deal for Gilmore in 2024, which may be out of Dallas’ price range. The Cowboys are currently projected to be $3.2 million over the salary cap for 2024, so they need to make moves just to get under the cap.
Money is especially tighter because contracts for LB Micah Parsons and WR CeeDee Lamb are about to expire. They may be able to persuade Gilmore to accept a less favorable arrangement, but paying him might not be possible.
Although Gilmore is worth the money, it is unwise to spend that much on a player who might end up as the No. 3 corner. Gilmore is probably the odd man out if Bland and Diggs are in good condition and playing their best games.
