Patriots lose meeting as former star signs with Colts: Report – Home

ads

GettyFrank Reich

If any part of the New England Patriots fan base was hoping to reunite with Stephon Gilmore, that ship has already sailed. On Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported that former Patriot and 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore will sign with the Indianapolis Colts on a two-year deal.

Former NFL Defensive Player of the Year and five-time Pro Bowl CB Stephon Gilmore is signing with the #Colts on a 2-year deal, the source said. The former #Patriots and #Panthers star was visiting this week and now lands in Indy.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 15, 2022

The Patriots traded Gilmore to the Carolina Panthers last season for a 2023 sixth-round pick after the 31-year-old held out through the first month of the 2021 regular season.

ALL the latest Patriots news straight to your inbox! Join the Heavy on Patriots newsletter here!

Join Heavy on Patriots!

Gilmore played eight games for the Panthers after recovering from injury and working on getting back in shape. He started two games and had 2 interceptions. He wasn’t part of the initial wave of free agent signings and instead had to wait until the spring to find his next NFL team.

After New England lost JC Jackson in free agency to the Los Angeles Chargers, the Patriots needed a cornerback. After the Panthers didn’t re-sign Gilmore, there was speculation that he might return to New England to play alongside recently returned Malcolm Butler and his former teammate Johnathon Jones.

We don’t know how deep the Patriots’ interest went in bringing Gilmore back, or if they had any interest, but it’s safe to say that one of the greatest corners in franchise history will not return to Foxborough, at least as a teammate. team, anytime soon, or maybe never again.

ALL the latest Patriots news straight to your inbox! Join the Heavy on Patriots newsletter here!

Join Heavy on Patriots!

In four years with the Patriots, Gilmore took on the toughest defensive assignments on a weekly basis against the most elite wide receivers in the NFL. During that time, he had 11 interceptions. He led the league in that category in 2019 with 6.

He missed just 8 games and helped New England win its most recent Super Bowl after his highly decorated 2019 season. Gilmore has made the Pro Bowl four years in a row and five times total. He has 27 career interceptions by him and 2 All-NFL first-team honors. With only two or three more seasons at or near an elite level, he looks like he’s headed for the Hall of Fame.

The Colts will likely include Gilmore as a starter against Kenny Moore and safeties Khari Willis and Rodney McLeod. Indy could also look to add depth or more pieces in the secondary in the NFL Draft. Gilmore marks the second now-former Patriots player to land with head coach Frank Reich and the Colts after valuable special team member Brandon King signed with Indy on April 13.

New England still has a hole in CB

The Patriots have yet to address their corner needs. While Gilmore won’t be among the solutions the team explores, it seems very likely they’ll turn to the NFL Draft for answers.

Bill Belichick and Co. currently have the No. 21 pick in the first round, but are widely projected to trade that spot for one or two more picks in the top 90 picks.

Still, players like Kyler Gordon, Trent McDuffie, Kaiir Elam and Tariq Woolen are prospects mentioned as possible candidates for the Patriots. It wouldn’t be a surprise if one of those four is in a position to start with New England in 2022.

Follow the Heavy on Patriots Facebook page where you can weigh in on the latest Patriots news, rumours, content and more!

READ ALSO:

ads