This Patriots-Seahawks Blockbuster Trade Involving Stephon Gilmore Has Real Potential
By Mark Powell
The New England Patriots have two options with 2019 AFC Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore -- pay him or trade him.
Gilmore becomes a free agent after the 2021 season, and Bill Belichick has made a habit of trading players before they become overpaid per market value. Despite his status as a lockdown corner, Gilmore is expendable for the Patriots at the right price, especially as they transition into an entirely uncharted new era.
The Seattle Seahawks have entered the chat.
Quick-hit thoughts/notes around the Patriots and NFL (Stephon Gilmore takes offseason changes in stride; tight to salary cap; trade suggestion at TE; Brady the holder; Patriots theme — together while apart; Shelton vs. Allen contracts; Professor Cope etc.) https://t.co/5TV0Fv83xg
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) March 29, 2020
Seattle's been lacking an elite CB ever since letting Richard Sherman walk to the rival 49ers. Adding Gilmore, while expensive, would pair him with a secondary featuring the likes of Quandre Diggs and Quinton Dunbar.
Such a decision would eliminate Seattle's chances of landing Jadeveon Clowney, but the Hawks' defensive line remains formidable without the former No. 1 overall pick. With Gilmore and Dunbar on opposite sides of the formation, the Seahawks become a very tough team to pass against.
Comp update: Seahawks are sending Washington a 5th-round pick in exchange for CB Quinton Dunbar, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 23, 2020
So Redskins trade a 5 for QB Kyle Allen, get back a 5 for Dunbar.
Securing Gilmore's services won't be cheap -- the Seahawks must yield a first-round pick in this year's draft (27) and a 2021 third-rounder. They'll also need to take on Gilmore's 2020 cap hit of $18.6 million. Considering the Seahawks have just over $12 million in cap space, they'll either have to restructure Russell Wilson's contract, ask the Patriots to take some of the financial hit (which would cost more draft capital), or trade Bradley McDougald to New England to even things out.
It's a fiscal mess, but surely something John Schneider and Co. can figure out for a player of Gilmore's caliber, especially considering they have a far more clarified window than the Patriots, at this moment.